Role of Folic Acid during Pregnancy

What Is Folic Acid?

Folic acid is a B-vitamin (B9) that is commonly found in the leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale, and orange juice. Several studies have revealed that women who take about 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before their conception and during early days of pregnancy are likely to reduce the risk of giving the birth to a serious neural tube defected child by approximately 70%.

The most ordinary neural tube defects are spina bifida, anencephaly, and encephalocele and any of them can take place in the body of the women during her first 4 weeks of pregnancy, the period when she is herself unaware of her pregnancy.

This is the primary reason why every woman who has intentions of having a child must be aware of the importance of folic acid intake in her daily diet. Folic acid plays a vital role in the growth and development of cell in addition to formation of tissues.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States propose that each woman who is planning a pregnancy must have an intake of around 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. Folic acid must be taken adequately before conception and for a minimum period of 3 months afterward to reduce the risk of a having a fetus free from a neural tube defect.

Food and Drug Administration of United States makes it mandatory that folic acid must be added to enriched grain products with a view to boost the intake from breakfast cereals, pastas, breads and rice that contain 100% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid.

During the period of pregnancy, the pregnant woman requires an additional intake of folic acid in her diet intake than a normal woman or pre-pregnancy. Although prenatal vitamins must not replace the well-balanced diet of the woman, steps can be taken to provide an additional boost of vitamins and minerals. Some of the health care providers worldwide even suggest that the intake of having a folic acid additional supplement along with your regular prenatal vitamin intake. The advice of a certified medical practitioner is a MUST before deciding the quantity of folic acid during pregnancy.
Sources of Folic acid:

Fortified breakfast cereals.
Spinach.
Asparagus.
Lentils.
Black beans
Orange juice.
Peanuts.
Broccoli.
Romaine lettuce
Enriched breads and pasta.
Side effects of Folic acid:

1. Severe damage of the nervous system.
2. Erythema, skin rash, itching.
3. Anorexia and abdominal distention.
4. Nausea and irritability.
5. Mental depression, altered sleep patterns and impaired judgment.