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Folic Acid Pregnancy
Folic acid is a vitamin that is part of the B complex vitamins, or, to put it shortly, folic acid is vitamin B9. It plays an important role in producing new cells, especially red and white blood cells. Folic acid deficiency produces a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia. It is especially important in the biological periods characterized by rapid growth and development, such as pregnancy and childhood.
Natural sources of folic acid
Folic acid can be mainly taken from a healthy diet, containing green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, beans, peas, but is also found in carrots, sugar beets, avocados, wheat, corn, almonds, and chestnuts. Most animal products rich in folic acid are egg yolk, liver, milk and fermented cheeses.
The main roles of folic acid
- Helps the DNA synthesis
- It is essential in forming red blood cells, protecting from anemia
- Protects the body from cardiovascular diseases and stroke
- Protects your baby from birth defects
- Increases the production of breast milk
- Has protective role against lung, colon and uterine cancer
Folic acid deficiency
The main manifestation of folic acid deficiency is the installation of megaloblastic anemia. The red blood cells are no longer produced normally; they have an increased volume and are called megaloblastic. These megaloblastic cells are destroyed in the spleen, resulting in lack of adequate oxygenation of tissues and cells.
Moreover, folic acid deficiency, especially when it occurs during pregnancy, can cause symptoms like diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, dry tongue, headache, palpitations, irritability and behavioral changes. In children, folic acid deficiency can cause slow development.
Folic acid and pregnancy
Folic acid is an important vitamin for every woman who is planning to become pregnant. This vitamin helps in preventing serious birth defects of the brain and of the spinal cord (neural tube defects), heart and upper lip malformations in the fetus.
Folate is needed very early in pregnancy, usually even before a woman realizes that she is pregnant. It is therefore very important that every pregnant woman who wants to consume enough folic acid should start taking folic acid supplements at least one month before pregnancy. An easy way to ensure a sufficient amount of folic acid is a complex multivitamin supplement containing folic acid. But, as statistics show, every third pregnancy is an unplanned one. Therefore, it is highly important that all women of conception age should try to enrich their daily diet with some of the foods enumerated above. Starting a healthy diet earlier in life makes it easier to go through pregnancy and increases the chances of having a happy, healthy baby.
A folic acid supplement must contain at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. This vitamin can also be found in grains that, according to nutritionists, must be consumed every day.
In addition, folic acid is important for fertility in both women and men, thus restating again the importance of the intake of folic acid even before pregnancy.
The risks of overdose
The risk of folic acid poisoning is very low. Scientists have agreed that an adult can tolerate 1 mg of folic acid and such a level is not achieved easily even with supplements. So, if you are planning to conceive or already are pregnant, don't forget your daily dose of folic acid.