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Folic Acid and Pregnancy: Importance,Dose and Benefits

 

In this Article:

About Folic Acid | Importance of folic acid in pregnancy? | How much dose taken of folic acid? | Does Folic acid increase fertility? | Benefits of Folic Acid | Food that are rich of folic acid

Folic acid, a synthetic version of folate, which is vitamin B specially vitamin B9 that is found in foods like Bread, Pasta, vegetables, nuts, cereals etc. Folic acid plays important role of production of DNA and Red Blood Cells (RBC) and helps build baby's neural tube and spinal cord. 

Importance of folic acid in pregnancy?

It is very important for women who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant to use folic acid in their daily diet. Folic acid is helpful in preventing the major birth defects of the baby's brain and spinal cord.

How much dose taken of folic acid?

Folic acid should be taken 12 weeks before pregnancy and 12 weeks after pregnancy. The recommended dose for women who is pregnant or want to become pregnant at-least 400-600 microgram folic acid each day. If you are also taking multivitamins then you should take 600 microgram of folic acid including foods and prenatal vitamins.

Does Folic acid increase fertility?

Studies suggest Folic acid may increase fertility. Women who take multivitamins with folic acid produce more eggs means more likely to ovulate. Women who trying to conceive and take folic acid supplements has higher pregnancy rates.

Benefits of Folic Acid

When taken folic acid supplements before or after pregnancy has uncountable health benefits. Some are listed below :-

  • Prevent Cleft lip and palate :- A researchers has found that 400 microgram (mcg) a folic acid in a day is reduced the baby's cleft lip and another baby birth defects. The researchers examined the hookup between facial clefts and mother's intake of folic acid supplements, multivitamins and folates in diet. The researchers found 400 mcg or more per day folic acid reduced the risk of cleft lip with or without cleft palate by one-third, but has no presumed effects on the risk of cleft palate alone.
  • Prevent Miscarriage :- 400 mcg of folate acid, reduced the risk of birth defects that can lead to miscarriage.
  • Prevent neural tube defects :-  All ladies who is reproductive age consume 400 mcg of folic acid per day as well as consuming food with folate from miscellaneous diet, to help reduce some major birth defects of the body brain like neural tube defects. There are two common neural tube defects found in baby. These are - Anencephaly and Spina bifida. Anencephaly is serious birth defect, which is parts of a baby's brain and skull do not from baby's brain and skull correctly. Baby born with anencephaly can't survive. Spina bifida is serious birth defect. Here baby spine doesn't develop properly and results some severe physical disabilities.
  • Prevent gestational diabetes :-  It is not possible to prevent gestational diabetes during pregnancy. However, maintaining a healthy weight before and after conception eating well, and exercising regularly during pregnancy can all reduce risk. Taking folic acid supplement before and after pregnancy may reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.
  • Protects low birth weight :- Folic acid supplement during pregnancy, reducing he risk of low birth weight of babies. Since the birth weight are induce maternal factor like height  and parity, a trail was carried on in maternal controls with iron and zinc and folic acid during the last 12-16 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Prevent premature birth :- Folic acid have a important role in the prevent of pregnancy complications. To initiate taking folic acid supplement conception was adversely associated with premature birth risk. Higher maternal folate levels and folic acid were  significantly associated with lower risk of premature birth.
  • Prevent poor growth in the womb
  • Protects congenital heart defects

Food that are rich of folic acid
folic acid in pregnancy

Some foods that are best sources of folic acid. Include that foods in your diet. These foods are:- 

  • Dark leafy green vegetables
  • Avocado
  • Legumes ( beans, peas, lentils)
  • Eggs
  • Broccoli
  • Citrus fruits
  • Beets
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Beef liver
  • Papaya

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