Why consume Folic Acid during Pregnancy?
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 292, Word Count: 579,
Folic acid or folate is a naturally occurring B complex vitamin (B9). It is vital for fetal development. Folic acid plays a very central role in cellular development, function and division. It is very important for the proper formation of red blood cells and DNA.
Folic acid is crucial for fetal development as it helps in the formation of brain, spinal cord and rest of the nervous system of the fetus. A woman who is planning a pregnancy should consume folic acid tablets much before conception and should continue taking them during pregnancy. Deficiency of folic acid could lead to several birth defects, improper growth of brain and spinal cord and can increase the chances of a miscarriage.
Deficiency of folic acid can lead to a number of defects in the nervous system, brain and spinal cord called neural tube defects. The most common neural tube defects are :
- Spina bonafida which is an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column. This defect can cause paralysis of lower limbs, poor cognitive development and poor bladder control in later years of life.
- Anencephaly which is a severe undergrowth of the brain. A baby with such a defect usually is born still or dies after a few days.
- Encephalocele where the brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an unusual opening of the skin.
Folic acid deficiency also cause macrocytic anemia in pregnancy.
Neural tube defects usually occur in the first 28 days of pregnancy, which is the period when a woman does not even know that she is pregnant. No all women have planned pregnancies and hence it is being contemplated that all women of childbearing age should consume folic acid and not only women who are trying to conceive.
A normal adult woman requires about 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. During pregnancy, a woman needs to increase the intake of folic acid to about 600 micrograms per day. In case of a family history of NTDs, it is recommended to take at least ten times more of the normal dose of folic acid to prevent any birth defects in the child.
Apart from folic acid supplements you should consume natural foods that contain folic acid. Some of the natural foods that contain folic acid are:
- Fortified Breakfast Cereals
- Orange juice (from concentrate is best)
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Spinach
- Lentils
- Black beans
- Strawberries
- Supplemented breads and pasta
- Peanuts
- Soya
- Legumes
- Avocado
- organ meats
Folic acid is water soluble and hence if excess of folic acid is consumed do not get worried because the excess folic acid is flushed out of the system. There is no danger of toxicity in the body with excess of folic acid.
Remember, that folic acid is very important for fetal development and your own health during pregnancy. Hence, if you are planning to have a baby, take folic acid before the pregnancy and in the first few months of the pregnancy. Your doctor will surely prescribe folic acid supplements that are to be taken daily.
About the Author
Dr Tsou Jinyeu is a well known gynecologist and has been in this field since 1995. His special interests are – genetic and birth defects, high risk obstetrics, lupus in pregnancy, premature labour, premature delivery, triplets and ultrasound diagnosis. He is graduated from the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Nowdays he is working as a medical doctor at Elmhurst Loyola Center for Health.
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