Many women are told to take vitamin supplements while they are pregnant. One such vitamin, folic acid, is important for preventing birth defects in children. However, folic acid supplementation may increase your child's risk of developing respiratory problems early in life. Talk to your doctor to see if you need folic acid supplements while pregnant.
What Is Folic Acid?
Folic acid is a B vitamin that may also be called folate. Folic acid can be converted by the body into folate, which is needed for a variety of functions in the body. You need folate to be able to make DNA; because you need new DNA to make new cells, folate is also critical for cell synthesis, particularly red blood cells. Folate also is needed to make several different amino acids.
Folic Acid and Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, your blood is responsible for supplying the oxygen and other nutrients that your baby needs. As a result, pregnant women need to make more red blood cells to help support their baby, resulting in increased folate requirements. Pregnant women are often told to take 400 mcg of folic acid each day. Folic acid deficiencies in pregnant women can result in serious birth defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
Folic Acid and Respiratory Health
Although you may be told to take folic acid supplements while pregnant, these supplements can impair the respiratory health of your baby during early childhood. A 2009 study in the "Archives of Disease in Childhood" examined the effects of folic acid supplementation on over 32,000 children between 2000 and 2005. This study found that the children of pregnant mothers who took folic acid supplements were more likely to have respiratory problems in the first 18 months of life and were also more likely to need hospitalization for respiratory problems.
Considerations
Although folic acid supplements may increase your child's risk of developing respiratory problems, the birth defects that can occur as a result of a folic acid deficiency are severe and can result in early death or severe developmental problems. If you are concerned about taking folic acid supplements during pregnancy, talk to your doctor to discuss the risks and benefits of folic acid supplements. More research needs to be done to determine the optimum dose of folic acid during pregnancy.
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