Folic acid is an essential nutrient for both conception and pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, folic acid is the only nutrient for which the need doubles during pregnancy. Adequate intake both before pregnancy and early in pregnancy can help prevent serious birth defects.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B vitamin foliate. Folic acid is absorbed in the body better than folate, so even if you are eating a folate-rich diet, supplements may be beneficial. Folic acid helps make red blood cells as well as build and repair DNA. Folic acid also reduces the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, as well as other complications, such as cleft palate and heart defects. According to the Baby Center website, folic acid can also reduce the risk of preeclampsia in pregnancy.
Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins catered toward pregnant women and women who are trying to conceive. The main difference between prenatal vitamins and regular multivitamins is the increased amounts of folic acid, iron and calcium, nutrients that are essential during pregnancy. Pregnant women have increased needs for these nutrients, and prenatal vitamins can help fill any gaps in the diet to ensure adequate intake of these nutrients.
Folic Acid in Prenatal Vitamins
Along with calcium and iron, folic acid is one of the main distinguishing nutrients in prenatal vitamins compared to regular multivitamins. Folic acid is extremely important in pregnancy and for women trying to become pregnant. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. The neural tube forms within 28 days of conception, making early intake of folic acid essential. This vitamin is so important in the early days of pregnancy that the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that all women of childbearing age take at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily in case of unplanned pregnancy.
Amounts
The Centers for Disease Control reports that consuming adequate folic acid for one month before pregnancy and through the first trimester can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 50 to 70 percent. The RDA for folic acid for women of childbearing age is 400 mcg. This amount increases to 600 mcg of folic acid per day during pregnancy. Most prenatal vitamins should contain at least 600 mcg of folic acid to meet the needs of both pre-pregnancy and pregnancy. Some prenatal vitamins contain 800 to 1000 mcg of folic acid. Women should not take more than 1000 mcg of folic acid per day, as doing so can mask a vitamin B-12 deficiency known as pernicious anemia.
Considerations
Women who are obese or have had a child with neural tube defects may require extra folic acid. In such cases, your doctor should provide appropriate recommendations for folic acid supplementation.
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