Pregnancy is the beginning of a life-changing event. Your body belongs to someone else and what you do with it affects this new being. One of the most important parts of pregnancy is getting adequate nutrition, vitamins and minerals. Folic acid is one of the most vital nutrients.
Function
"Nutrition" by Frances Sizer and Eleanor Whitney describes folic acid as a key player in cellular reproduction. As the fetus is growing and developing, new cells are being made at an enormous rate. Without the proper amount of folic acid, cellular growth cannot be achieved. A study published in the "International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" by Dr. Bryan Hibbard states that folic acid helps form the precursor for DNA in each cell's nucleus. Once the DNA is transcribed, the cell takes on its new role. Clearly, folic acid plays a major part of DNA and cellular reproduction.
Dietary Requirements
The recommended intake of folic acid during pregnancy is 600 mcg per day, according to "Nutrition." This increased folate intake should also occur before pregnancy. If you're planning to become pregnant, your folic acid intake should equal that of a pregnant woman. A study published in "Pediatric Drugs" in 2000 suggests that a multivitamin including folic acid before pregnancy can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular and limb congenital defects.
Sources
During and before pregnancy, the fail-safe way to obtain the right amount of folic acid is with a pre-natal vitamin. Foods that are fortified with folic acid can also provide a means for ingestion. "Nutrition" states that multigrain breads, pasta, rice, chickpeas, asparagus, spinach, avocado and lentils can provide great sources of natural and fortified folic acid.
Effects on the Fetus
Adequate folic acid intake can influence both the health, development and birth weight of the fetus. During development, adequate folic acid can prevent neural tube defects. "Nutrition" states that during the early weeks of pregnancy, the formation and closure of the neural tube occurs. The neural tube is the tissue that will form the brain and spinal cord. If there is inadequate folic acid, closure of the tube might not occur. This can lead to a neural tube defect like spina bifida or anencephaly. Inadequate amounts of folic acid have also been shown to lead to low birth weights.
Effects on the Mother
Inadequate folic acid can affect the mother, states Dr. Hibbard in the "International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology." Without folic acid, the mother may suffer from megaloblastic anemia. In addition, a diet lacking in folic acid can leave the mother susceptible to miscarriage or other pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, according to a study in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" published in 2000. These pregnancy complications occur due to an elevation of homocysteine levels which are associated with low folic acid, explains the study.
References
- "Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies"; Sizer, Francis, Whitney, Eleanor; 2003
- "International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology";The Role of Folic Acid During In Pregnancy; Hibbard MD, Bryan;Volume 71, Issue 4, 2005
- "Pediatric Drugs"; Primary Prevention of Neural-Tube Defects and Some Other Major Congenital Abnormalities: Recommendations for the Appropriate Use of Folic Acid During Pregnancy; Czeizel, A.E.; Volume 2, Number 6, 2000
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition";Folic Acid: Influence on the Outcome of Pregnancy; Scholl, Theresa O., Johnson, William G., Volume 71, Number 5, 2000
