Folic Acid - Why It Is Important For Pregnant Women?

Folic acid is the synthetic form of the vitamin B9 and more commonly known as folate. For a pregnant woman, it is extremely important to consume folic acid in adequate quantities. It has the ability to prevent any birth defect, related to brain and spinal cord. It essentially protects the neural tube, which shapes into the spine and the brain. Since neural tube defects can occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy, it is essential that a woman starts consuming folic acid right before she endeavors to conceive.

What are the benefits?
Many researchers are of the view that folic acid is a key component for safeguarding the baby from certain diseases such as cleft palate, certain heart defects and cleft lip. Apart from this, folic acid mitigates the risk of pre-eclampsia in a pregnant lady. Pre-eclampsia is a disorder related to blood pressure and affects close to 5%of all pregnant women. Folic acid also helps a would-be mother from a type of anemia. It is responsible for giving birth to DNA and increasing cell growth of the baby.

Consumption amount of folic acid:
In order to save the baby from any neural defect, it is essential that a pregnant woman consumes at least 400 micrograms of folic acid on a daily basis. Since many women conceive without planning, it is therefore suggested by experts that all women entering the childbearing age should consume folic acid. Some groups such as the National Institute of Health, US suggest that folic acid consumption for a pregnant woman should be 600 micrograms per day. If you are taking any supplements, check the label to see the folic acid quantity present in it. If a woman is consuming prenatal vitamin as prescribed by a doctor, she should not consume any folic acid from outside, since it already has a folic acid content of around 800-1000 microgram. To abstain from any side effects, it is strongly advised not to consume more than 1000 micrograms of folic acid per day..

When is extra folic acid needed?

1. If you are carrying twins
2. If your previous pregnancy involves a neural tube defect
3. If you have a genetic condition called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
4. If you are suffering from diabetes or consuming any anti-seizure medications

What are the sources of folic acid?

1. Certain grain products such as pasta, cereals, rice and bread
2. Certain food supplements available in the market
3. Naturally occurring vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens, avocado, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts
4. Citrus food or the juice extracted from them without adding any sugar component to it
5. Certain nuts and peas 

   If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dietitian-nutritionist.