What is Folic Acid?
Folate or folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, and available as a dietary supplement.
Why folic acid supplementation is important during pregnancy?
- Folic acid is essential for the healthy development of an unborn baby’s spine, brain and skull. Taking a daily multivitamin containing folic acid can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects by as much as 70%.
- Reduces the risk of other birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate, and certain heart abnormalities.
Who should take folic acid?
- All women in a childbearing age are recommended to take folic acid as a daily supplementation of 400mcg as most of pregnancies are unplanned and because these birth defects occur very early in pregnancy (3-4 weeks after conception), before most women know they are pregnant.
- Women who:
- have a previous pregnancy affected by an NTD(neural tube defects)
- have a family history of NTDs(neural tube defects)
- use certain anti-seizure medication
- have insulin-dependent diabetes
- been diagnosed as clinically obese
- abuse alcohol
- multiple pregnancies ( twins)
These women in the above cases need more folic acid ( higher than 400 mcg of folic acid) each day, to strengthen their chances of having a healthy baby (the dose is preferably determined by her doctor).
Food Sources of folic acid:
– leafy green vegetables, like spinach, broccoli, and lettuce
– Beans, peas, and lentils
– Fruits like lemons, bananas, and melons.
Recommended intake of folic acid as supplemental dose:
- Women in childbearing age : 400mcg
- Pregnant women in first trimester : 400mcg
- Lactating : 500 mcg