Folic Acid For Pregnant Ladies

Folic acid, also called folate, belongs to the group of vitamins referred to as the B-complex. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, folic acid is extremely important for women who are pregnant or those women who wish to become pregnant. Folic acid is the most useful in the three weeks directly after conception, which is often the time before a woman even realizes she is pregnant.

Functions

Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. The neural tube consists of the baby's spine, brain and skull. If the neural tube does not develop correctly, major birth defects can develop. One of the most common defects associated with a lack of folic acid is spina bifida, which occurs when the spinal column does not fully close and the baby's spinal column is exposed. This can result in lifelong nerve disabilities. Another possible defect is anencephaly, which is the underdevelopment of the baby's brain. According to the National Women's Health Information Center, babies with anencephaly usually die before birth or shortly after.

Recommendations

Pregnant women and women who are planning to become pregnant should aim to consume 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid daily, according to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake. In addition to this, these women should follow a diet that is rich in naturally-occurring folate. "Nutrition and You" also notes that women with a family history of neural tube defects should talk to their healthcare providers about consuming even larger amounts of folate.

Food Sources

Natural sources of folic acid include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, legumes and whole-grains. Other foods have added folic acid. This foods includes fortified cereals, breads, flour, pasta, cornmeal and rice. According to the National Women's Health Information Center, the body does not absorb natural folic acid as well as synthetic folic acid. However, so it is often recommended for a pregnant woman to get folic acid through prenatal vitamin supplementation.

Toxicity

It is not likely that a woman will consume too much folic acid through the diet, but it is possible to consume excess amounts of folic acid in a vitamin supplement. The tolerable upper intake limit, which is the highest recommended amount, for folic acid is 1,000 mcg per day. Excess amounts of folic acid can hide the presence of a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to nerve damage.

Considerations

Folic acid may interfere with specific medications, including blood sugar medications, anticonvulsants, diuretics and sedatives. A woman should discuss these medications and any folic acid supplementation with her healthcare provider before beginning any supplementation regimen.