The Importance of Folic Acid During Pregnancy

Many studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of this vitamin on a daily basis prior to conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.

All nutrients are essential in preparing for pregnancy, but one — folic acid — merits special consideration.

Folic acid (folate, folacin or B9) reduces the risk of spina bifida in offspring (a leading cause of childhood paralysis) when consumed by pregnant women. It may also reduce the chance of other birth defects as well as childhood leukemia in offspring.

The most common neural tube birth defects from folic acid deficiency are:

• Spina bifida, an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column
• Anencephaly, severe underdevelopment of the brain
• Encephalocele, when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an abnormal opening in the skull

In a new study from Norway, women who took folic acid supplements in the first two months of pregnancy were less likely to have kids with severe language delays.

When’s the last time you ate your Brussels sprouts? With the fast pace of modern living, it’s easy to slack on your folic acid consumption. Many Americans, deficient in this important B vitamin, suffer from depression, fatigue and insomnia. You don’t want to be one of them! Folic acid is crucial for bones, births and bedtime!

Folic Acid is found in the following foods:

• Fortified breakfast cereals (look on the label to see if the cereal has been fortified with folic acid)
• 

  • Pinterest
  Lentils
• Asparagus
• Spinach
• Black beans
• Peanuts (only if you do not have a peanut allergy)
• Orange juice (from concentrate is best)
• Enriched breads and pasta
• Romaine lettuce
• Broccoli

Most people can get sufficient folic acid from their diet, but folic acid supplements are generally recommended for women who are pregnant or may soon become pregnant.

The Importance of Folic Acid during Pregnancy

Adequate folic acid intake is very important before conception and at least 3 months afterward to potentially reduce the risk of having a fetus with a neural tube defect.

Folic acid from supplements and fortified foods is actually absorbed twice as well as that from regular food sources. Consequently, if you are relying on supplements or fortified foods to reach the RDA, you need only one-half the amount listed in the following RDAs:

• The RDA for pregnant women is 600 mcg
• For lactating women it is 500 mcg
• All women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 mcg from supplements or fortified foods, in addition to intake of food folic acid from a varied diet.
• To treat folic acid deficiency, 250 – 1000 mcg per day is used, although higher amounts (1 to 5 mg) may be appropriate in cases of severe deficiency.

Although prenatal vitamins shouldn’t replace a well-balanced diet, taking them can give your body — and, therefore, your baby — an added boost of vitamins and minerals. Some health care providers recommend taking a folic acid supplement in addition to your regular prenatal vitamin.

The following folic acid supplements have been approved by a third party testing lab that control quality, digestion and proper labeling.  These three are safe to consume for your folic acid needs before, during and after pregnancy:

• Freeda Pure Folic Acid
• Life Solutions Liquid Folic Acid
• Nature’s Plus Folic Acid Hearts

Folic acid is good for mom and dad, too.

Folic acid is important for everyone in maintaining health. It plays an important role in the production of red blood cells. A large body of research suggests that getting adequate amounts of folic acid protects against colon cancer — and possibly prostate cancer, as well. One theory is that the vitamin helps to maintain the integrity of DNA, preventing the kinds of errors that lead to malignancy.