You should take folic acid throughout your pregnancy. All about folic acid. Why folic acid is so necessary for pregnant women

People have known about the benefits of vitamin B9 (folic acid) for a long time, but only relatively recently doctors began to actively promote the use of this substance among the population. Folic acid is prescribed during pregnancy and is included in complex therapy in the treatment of heart diseases. There is a lot of debate about the extent to which this vitamin can provoke the development of cancer or whether it is an inhibitory factor in the growth of cancer cells. Only one thing is indisputable - every person’s body needs folic acid, but its intake is especially important for women.

Features of folic acid

The benefits of vitamins and minerals are known to everyone. Many of us know what calcium and magnesium are, why iron is needed in the body and what effect vitamins B6, B12, A and C, PP and D have. Vitamin B9 remains undeservedly forgotten - folic acid, in which the active substance is folate.

Note:Folic acid cannot be produced by the body itself, and its ability to accumulate in tissues and organs is zero. Even if a person introduces the maximum amount of foods containing vitamin B9 into his diet, the body will absorb less than half of the original volume. The main disadvantage of folic acid is that it destroys itself even with slight heat treatment (storing the product in a room at room temperature is enough).

Folates are a fundamental component in the process of DNA synthesis and maintaining its integrity. In addition, it is vitamin B9 that promotes the body’s production of specific enzymes that are actively involved in the prevention of the formation of malignant tumors.

Lack of folic acid in the body was detected in people aged 20-45 years, in pregnant and lactating women. This can lead to the development of megaloblastic anemia (oncology associated with decreased DNA synthesis) and the birth of children with developmental defects. There are also certain clinical symptoms that indicate a lack of folic acid in the body - fever, often diagnosed inflammatory processes, disorders of the digestive system (diarrhea, nausea, anorexia), hyperpigmentation.

Important:natural folic acid is absorbed much worse than synthetic one: taking 0.6 mcg of the substance in the form of a medication is equal to 0.01 mg of folic acid in its natural form.

How to take folic acid

The National Academy of Sciences published general guidelines for the use of folic acid back in 1998. The dosage according to these data will be as follows:

• optimal – 400 mcg per day per person;
• minimum – 200 mcg per person;
• during pregnancy – 400 mcg;
• during lactation – 600 mcg.

note: In any case, the dosage of vitamin B9 is determined individually and the above values ​​can only be used for a general understanding of the daily dosage of the drug. There are clear restrictions on the daily amount of the substance in question when planning pregnancy and during the period of bearing/feeding a child, as well as in the case of using folic acid for the prevention of cancer.

Folic acid and pregnancy

Folic acid is responsible for DNA synthesis, it is actively involved in cell division and their restoration. Therefore, the drug in question must be taken both during pregnancy planning, and during the period of bearing a child, and during breastfeeding.

Folic acid is prescribed to women who have stopped taking contraceptives and are planning a child. You need to start using the substance in question as soon as the decision is made to conceive and give birth to a child - the importance of the absolute supply of folic acid in the mother’s body in the first days/weeks of pregnancy is difficult to assess. The fact is that at two weeks of age the embryo’s brain is already beginning to form - at this stage a woman may not even suspect she is pregnant. In the early stages of pregnancy, the baby’s nervous system is also formed - folic acid is necessary for proper cell division and the formation of an absolutely healthy organism. Why do gynecologists prescribe vitamin B9 to women when planning pregnancy? The substance in question takes an active part in hematopoiesis, which occurs during the formation of the placenta - with a lack of folic acid, pregnancy can end in miscarriage.

A lack of folic acid in a woman’s body during pregnancy can lead to the development of birth defects:

• "cleft lip";
• hydrocephalus;
• "cleft palate";
• neural tube defect;
• violation of the mental and intellectual development of the child.

Ignoring folic acid prescriptions from a gynecologist can lead to premature birth, placental abruption, stillbirth, miscarriage - according to scientific research, in 75% of cases, this development of events can be prevented by taking folic acid 2-3 months before pregnancy.

After childbirth, you should also not interrupt the course of taking the substance in question - postpartum depression, apathy, and general weakness are a consequence of a lack of folic acid in the mother’s body. In addition, in the absence of additional introduction of folates into the body, there is a deterioration in the quality of breast milk, its quantity decreases, which affects the growth and development of the child.

Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy and lactation

During the period of planning and carrying a pregnancy, doctors prescribe folic acid to a woman in the amount of 400 - 600 mcg per day. While breastfeeding, the body needs a higher dosage - up to 600 mcg per day. In some cases, women are prescribed a dose of 800 mcg of folic acid per day, but such a decision should only be made by a gynecologist based on the results of an examination of the woman’s body. An increased dosage of the substance in question is prescribed for:

• Diabetes mellitus and epilepsy diagnosed in a woman;
• existing congenital diseases in the family;
• the need to constantly take medications (they make it difficult to absorb folic acid in the body);
• previously born children with a history of folate-dependent diseases.

Important : The gynecologist should indicate in what quantities of folic acid a woman should take during periods of planning/gestation of pregnancy and lactation. It is strictly forbidden to choose a “convenient” dosage on your own.

If a woman is absolutely healthy, then vitamin B9 is prescribed in the form of multivitamin preparations, which a woman needs when planning pregnancy and bearing a child. They are sold in pharmacies and are intended for expectant mothers - “Elevit”, “Pregnavit”, “Vitrum prenatal” and others.

If the need for an increased dosage of folic acid is identified, the woman is prescribed drugs with a high content of vitamin B9 - “Folacin”, “Apo-Folik”.

note: to know exactly how many capsules/tablets you need to take per day, you need to study the instructions for the drug and consult a gynecologist.

The principle of taking medications containing folic acid is simple: before or during meals, with plenty of water.

Overdose and contraindications

Recently, it has become “fashionable” to prescribe folic acid to pregnant women in the amount of 5 mg per day - apparently, this is how they want to fill the body with vitamin B9. This is absolutely wrong! Despite the fact that excess folic acid is eliminated from the body 5 hours after admission, an increased dosage of folic acid can lead to the development of anemia, increased excitability, kidney dysfunction, and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. It is believed that the maximum permissible dose of folic acid per day is 1 mg, 5 mg per day is a therapeutic dose that is prescribed for diseases of the cardiovascular system and other parts of the body.

To be clarified : even with an overdose of folic acid as prescribed by a doctor, there is no negative effect on the intrauterine development of the fetus. Only the body of the expectant mother suffers.

A contraindication to the prescription of folic acid is individual intolerance to the substance or hypersensitivity to it. If such a disorder was not identified before the prescription, then after consuming drugs with vitamin B9, a rash and itching on the skin, facial hyperemia (redness), and bronchospasm may appear. If these symptoms occur, you should immediately stop taking the prescribed medications and tell your doctor.

The benefits of folic acid for pregnant women are described in detail in the video review:

Folic acid in foods

Folic acid and cancer: data from official studies

Many sources indicate that folic acid is prescribed in the treatment of cancer. But on this issue, the opinions of scientists/doctors are divided - some studies confirm that this particular substance is capable of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and serving as prevention in oncology, but others have indicated an increase in malignant tumors when taking medications with folic acid.

General assessment of cancer risk from folic acid supplementation

The results of a large study assessing the overall risk of cancer in patients taking folic acid supplements were published in January 2013 in The Lancet.

“This study provides confidence in the safety of taking folic acid for a period not exceeding five years, both as supplements and as fortified foods.”

The study involved about 50,000 volunteers, who were divided into 2 groups: the first group was regularly given folic acid supplements, the other group was given a placebo “pacifier”. The group taking folic acid had 7.7% (1,904) new cancer cases, while the placebo group had 7.3% (1,809) new cases. No noticeable increase in overall cancer incidence was seen even in people with a high average folic acid intake (40 mg per day), experts say.

Risks of developing breast cancer when taking folic acid

In January 2014, the results of another study were published. Scientists studied the risks of breast cancer in women taking folic acid. Canadian researchers at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, including Dr. Yong-In-Kim, lead author of the study, found that folic acid supplements taken by breast cancer patients may promote the growth of malignant cells.

Previously, some scientists proved that folate can protect against various types of cancer, including breast cancer. However, research by Canadian scientists has shown that consumption of folic acid at a dosage of 2.5 mg 5 times a day for 2-3 months in a row significantly promotes the growth of existing precancerous or cancer cells in the mammary glands rodents. Important: This dosage is many times higher than the dosage recommended for humans.

Folic acid and prostate cancer risks

In March 2009, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of a study on the relationship between folic acid intake and the risk of prostate cancer.

Scientists from the University of Southern California, in particular study author Jane Figueiredo, found that taking vitamin supplements with folic acid more than doubles the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Researchers monitored the health of 643 volunteers for more than six and a half years: men whose average age was about 57 years. All men were divided into 2 groups: the first group took folic acid (1 mg) daily, the second group was given a placebo. During this time, 34 study participants were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Based on the data they had, scientists calculated the likelihood of developing prostate cancer in all participants over 10 years and came to the conclusion that 9.7% of people from group 1 (taking folic acid) and only 3.3% could develop cancer. men from the second group (taking “pacifiers”).

Folic acid and laryngeal cancer

In 2006, scientists from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart found that taking large doses of folic acid contributes to the regression of laryngeal leukoplakia (a precancerous disease that precedes laryngeal cancer).

The experiment involved 43 people who were diagnosed with laryngeal leukoplakia. They took 5 mg of folic acid 3 times a day. The results of the study, published by its leader Giovanni Almadori, surprised doctors: regression was recorded in 31 patients. In 12 cases there was a complete cure, in 19 cases there was a reduction in spots by 2 or more times. Italian scientists conducted an analysis and found that the concentration of folic acid was reduced in the blood of patients with head and neck cancer, as well as patients suffering from laryngeal leukoplakia. Based on this, a hypothesis was put forward about low folate levels as a provoking factor in the development and progression of cancer.

Folic acid and colon cancer

Previously, scientists from the American Cancer Society proved that vitamin B9 significantly reduces the risk of development - it is enough to consume folic acid in the form of natural products (spinach, meat, liver, animal kidneys, sorrel) or synthetic preparations.

Tim Byers found that patients who took folic acid supplements had an increase in the number of polyps in their intestines (polyps are precancerous lesions). Important: scientists emphasized that we are talking about the use of drugs, not products containing folates.

Note: Most of the studies confirming the increased risk of malignant neoplasms are based on taking doses many times higher than the minimum recommended. Remember that the recommended dose is 200 – 400 mcg. Most folic acid supplements contain 1 mg of folate, which is 2.5 to 5 times the daily value!

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category

Folic acid during pregnancy is an essential substance for a woman’s body and pregnancy.

A deficiency of folate compounds or vitamin B9 is dangerous and leads to changes in the blood composition of the expectant mother and child, and disturbances in the development of the placenta. The consequence is the birth of premature babies or children with developmental pathologies.

Folic acid is found in foods:

• broccoli;
• green pea;
• carrot;
• bananas;
• citrus;
• leafy greens;
• yeast;
• bread products, etc.

A balanced diet is required to receive the required amount of B9. But even in this case, the development of vitamin deficiency is possible.

The reason is the rapid destruction of folic acid during food storage. Moreover, a pregnant woman’s body’s need for the vitamin increases significantly.

Other causes of folic acid deficiency:

• low dietary intake;
• genetic diseases (the body does not have enzymes for the absorption and processing of folate);
• chronic diseases of the intestines or stomach (normal absorption of the substance is disrupted);
• passion for alcoholic drinks;
• the use of certain medications - sulfonamides, oral contraception, anticonvulsants, antacids, anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Folic acid during pregnancy

Lack of vitamin B9 is a scourge among pregnant women these days. If the expectant mother has constant weakness, increased fatigue, anemia, dizziness and headaches, irritability, perhaps the reason is a deficiency of folic acid.

The importance of the vitamin in the body is enormous for the production of proteins and nucleic acids. It is necessary for the regeneration of cells and tissues, maintaining the normal state of all organs, and preventing the transformation of cells into cancer.

An even greater role of folic acid during pregnancy. It ensures normal growth and development of the fetus.

Adequate folate levels are important in the 1st trimester. During these months, all organs and systems of the embryo are formed, and most importantly, its nervous tissue and placental vessels.

Why is deficiency dangerous?

The main danger of vitamin B9 deficiency during pregnancy is insufficient development of the neural tube in the embryo.

This leads to the following developmental defects:

• fading of pregnancy, that is, fetal death in utero;
• hydrocephalus, or dropsy of the brain;
• anencephaly, that is, the embryo completely lacks a brain;
• spina bifida;
• brain herniation;
• impaired mental function;
• physical underdevelopment.

Folic acid is of great importance for the vascular system in the uterus. Consequences of a lack of substance:

• premature placental abruption;
• spontaneous termination of pregnancy.

Folate deficiency affects the well-being of a pregnant woman. The manifestations are:

• toxicosis in the early stages;
• rapid fatigue;
• weakness;
• decreased appetite;
• digestive disorders;
• headache and dizziness;
• leg cramps.

For this reason, doctors recommend drinking folic acid already at the stage of pregnancy planning. In reality, women often find out about conception at 5-6 weeks, and it is during this period that the embryo is especially susceptible to vitamin deficiency.

How to use?

Folic acid is produced in the form of tablets in pure form or in combination with cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) or ascorbic acid. They also produce vitamin complexes and biological supplements containing B9.

The tablets are taken without chewing and washed down with plain water. Take regardless of food.

When to start?

It is better to start taking folic acid before conception. This will prevent possible pathologies.

WHO - The World Health Organization recommends that all pregnant women take folic acid and iron supplements. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor managing the pregnancy. The woman’s medical history and the presence of any chronic diseases must be taken into account.

Until when should you drink it?

Folic acid during pregnancy is especially important in the first trimester, that is, from conception to 12 weeks.

Then you can stop taking the drug, provided that there are no manifestations of its insufficiency. In some cases, a woman is prescribed a vitamin and then in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.

It is advisable to start taking folic acid when planning pregnancy, then before childbirth and the end of breastfeeding.

The dosage varies depending on the timing:

• The period of planning conception – 400 mcg daily.
• First trimester of pregnancy – 600 – 800 mcg.
• From the 13th week until the end of pregnancy - 800 mcg per day.
• During breastfeeding - 400 - 600 mcg per day.

If necessary, the gynecologist can increase the daily dose:

• For miscarriages, fetal death, birth of children with developmental defects - 4 mg per day.
• For diabetes or epilepsy in a woman - 1 mg.
• When taking certain medications - 800 mcg - 4 mg per day (anticonvulsants, sulfonamides, alcohol-based medications, anti-tuberculosis, etc.).

Drugs

Folic acid is produced both in pure form and in the form of preparations:

• Folic acid tablets. Contains 1 mg vitamin B9. For prevention, the recommended dosage is 1 tablet per day.
• Folio. Contains 400 mcg folate combined with 200 mcg iodine. Taking it prevents the lack of B9 and iodine in the body of a pregnant woman.
• Folacin. The content of the active substance in the tablet is high – 5 mg. Therefore, it is used not for prevention, but for the treatment of deficiency.
• Gendevit. Polevitamine in the form of dragees. One contains 300 mcg of folic acid.
• Mom is complimentary. Multivitamin complex. One capsule contains 400 mcg of vitamin.

Contraindications

Folic acid during pregnancy is contraindicated in the following cases:

• allergic reaction or individual intolerance to folic acid;
• cancer in close relatives;
• vitamin B12 deficiency;
• chronic pyelonephritis;
• bronchial asthma.

Video about folic acid

Consequences of overdose

An overdose of vitamin B9 during pregnancy is difficult to achieve, since it is a water-soluble substance. Its absorption by the body occurs only in the required quantity, and the excess is excreted through the kidneys.

However, the symptoms of folic acid overdose are as follows:

• causeless irritability;
• digestive system disorders – nausea and vomiting, flatulence, diarrhea, lack of appetite;
• insomnia;
• impaired renal function.

An overdose of folic acid is said to occur when a daily dose of more than 15 mg enters the body.

Folic acid during pregnancy is a vitamin necessary to maintain the body of the expectant mother and the proper development of the fetus. B9 deficiency leads to irreversible consequences in the form of defects in the embryo. To prevent complications, it is advisable to start taking folic acid already at the stage of pregnancy planning and continue until the 12th week, and even better until childbirth and the end of breastfeeding.

Folic acid deficiency is experienced by 20% of the population, and according to some data, its deficiency occurs in all people at certain periods of life. However, they often do not even realize that this problem exists, and they have no idea what folic acid deficiency means for them. Folic acid or the more familiar Vitamin B9 (the same thing) is one of the most essential vitamins for the human body. Moreover, folic acid is a vital element, and folic acid during pregnancy is a vital vitamin for two at once. But, unfortunately, most often it is precisely this that is missing. This is especially true for pregnant women and children.

____________________________

· Folate deficiency

Folic acid deficiency can occur unnoticed. However, over time a personaccording to "incomprehensible"Chinam loses his appetite, quickly gets tired, becomes irritable, then diarrhea and vomiting begin. The final stage of symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency is the appearance of mouth ulcers and hair loss, which affects all organs and systems of the body. The formation of red blood cells, metabolic processes, the functioning of the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems, the activity of the gastrointestinal tract - vitamin B9 is involved in all these processes. Severe folic acid deficiency inevitably results in the development of megaloblastic anemia, which can lead to death.

· Why do you need folic acid during pregnancy?

With normal intestinal microflora, each organism can produce some amount of folic acid. So why do pregnant women need folic acid, why are folic acid tablets prescribed, in this case? The fact is that a deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy is very dangerous, and an excess of it is almost impossible. The amount that the body produces does not cover the needs of even a person in a normal state. Therefore, we all need to ensure that it enters the body along with food and vitamin complexes.

significantly increases, in fact, as the importance of vitamin B9. Why folic acid during pregnancy? First of all, it takes an active part in the formation of the placenta, and, therefore, its deficiency can cause placental insufficiency and premature termination of pregnancy. Folic acid, along with vitamin B12, is needed for cell division, and this is especially important for actively dividing tissues - in other words, during the period of embryo formation and fetal growth. Pregnant women also need folic acid for hematopoiesis in the unborn baby and his mother - it is involved in the formation of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets. Vitamin B9 is necessary for the formation of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), which are involved in the transmission of hereditary characteristics.

When answering the question why pregnant women need folic acid, one cannot help but mention its crucial role in the formation of the fetal neural tube. A lack of vitamin B9 during pregnancy is fraught with very serious defects in the fetus. If it is insufficient, the risks for the child during intrauterine development (especially in the early stages) are very high:

1. hydrocephalus;
2. anencephaly (absence of the brain in the fetus);
3. cerebral hernias;
4. spinal column defects;
5. delayed physical and mental development;
6. congenital deformities;
7. premature termination of pregnancy;
8. stillbirth of a child.

Vitamin B9 deficiency during pregnancy affects the pregnant woman herself. Its lack is the cause of toxicosis, depression in pregnant women, pain in the legs and arms. Severe folic acid deficiency in a pregnant woman inevitably results in the development of megaloblastic anemia, which can be fatal for the woman and child. However, the latter happens extremely rarely now, since a pregnant woman undergoes a series of tests to prevent this from happening, and folic acid tablets are prescribed during pregnancy to almost “everyone indiscriminately.”

· Does everyone need to take folic acid tablets during pregnancy?

Are you still wondering why folic acid is needed during pregnancy, whether to take the pills prescribed by the doctor or not? You, of course, have the right to be indignant and argue that you didn’t even know about this before, and gave birth normally, normal healthy children, and healthier than the modern generation - so why stuff yourself with too much? But you are unlikely to find anything to argue with the fact that the products, the environment, and the way of life used to be different, more acceptable, healthier. Vitamin deficiency today is like a runny nose, and it is observed in most pregnant women, and first of all, it is a deficiency of vitamin B9.

Of course, all these medical “horror stories” will not necessarily happen to you if you do not take folic acid tablets during pregnancy. But the lack of B9 is very threatening, and the excess is doubtful. Folic acid is quickly consumed during pregnancy, and excess is excreted from the body. Vitamin B9 does not have a cumulative property; in other words, the need for it constantly exists, and it can only be provided by “external supplies.” The daily requirement of folic acid for a person is 200 mcg; when planning to conceive, its intake must be doubled. And it increases 4 times.

· When do pregnant women need folic acid?

Absolutely every pregnant woman needs folic acid. This is the only vitamin during pregnancy, the importance of which and the need for its additional intake are not disputed even by the most ardent opponents of artificial vitamins.

The main difficulty is that the most important processes that occur with the participation of vitamin B9 during the formation of organs, the formation of the fetus, and the mental and physical health of the unborn child occur precisely in the very early stages of a developing pregnancy. The woman at this time does not even know that she is pregnant. The neural tube of the fetus (and this is the future brain, and the entire nervous system of the body) begins to form already on the 16th day after conception. And for this process it is especially important. It is most important that it enters the body of the expectant mother in the very first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, the ideal option is to start taking folic acid when planning to conceive, or rather 3 months before.

But even if you failed to prepare properly, and you found out about pregnancy later than you would like, it is not too late to take folic acid and you need to. The fetal neural tube undergoes many changes throughout the first trimester. And as a rule, it is recommended to take B9 during the first 3 months.

· What is better food or pills during pregnancy?

The name folica comes from the Latin “folium”, which means “leaf”. Actually, the source of this acid speaks for itself. The greatest amount of vitamin B9 can be found in leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, parsley, asparagus, onions, Brussels sprouts, broccoli. It is found in large quantities in wholemeal flour. There is enough folic acid in green peas, citrus fruits and juices, avocados, apricots, melon, pumpkin, beans, yeast. This is why vegetarians, as a rule, do not have folic acid deficiency. However, if you eat a little plant food (diet peculiarities, winter), you definitely need to take an additional vitamin. Among animal sources, liver is the richest source. Much less, but it is found in meat, fish, and cheeses.

If the pregnant woman’s health is in order, and there is no need to take in higher doses, then for the normal course of pregnancy and the development of the baby, the amount contained in vitamin complexes for pregnant women is sufficient. When additionally prescribing the drug, it is necessary to take into account the folic acid content in vitamins and adjust the dosage.

Undoubtedly, a natural source of the vitamin is much better than folic acid tablets during pregnancy - it is better absorbed, natural. But given the quality of modern products, it is difficult to predict the adequacy of its intake into the body. Therefore, if the doctor prescribes additional pills, take them without hesitation!

Yana Lagidna, especially for the site

And a little more about folic acid during pregnancy, video:

This is a mandatory vitamin in the diet of expectant mothers. Although today scientists cannot fully explain why folic acid for pregnant women plays such a significant role in the process of preventing neural tube disorders, it has been clearly proven that vitamin B9 is very important in the process of DNA development. Therefore, taking folic acid is especially important during pregnancy.

Folic acid requirements for pregnant women

Folic acid simply necessary in the process of formation, vital activity and renewal of cells. Also, it has a direct effect on the functioning of the nervous system and brain. That is why it is recommended to start taking folic acid even before the expected pregnancy.

Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy in the first trimester

Numerous studies have proven that taking folic acid (vitamin B9) from 400 mcg (0.4 mg) to 800 mcg per day before pregnancy and subsequently in its early stages significantly (by 50% - 70%) reduces the risk of having a child. with certain neural tube defects.

It is especially important to take folic acid in the first 28 days of pregnancy (unfortunately, not all women know that they are pregnant). But if the pregnancy is planned, it is better to start taking the substance two to three months before the expected conception.

How to take folic acid during early pregnancy

During pregnancy - 400 mcg/day, during lactation - 300 mcg/day. Once a day, during meals. The course of treatment lasts throughout the entire stage of pregnancy planning and another 12 weeks after conception.

Overdose of folic acid during pregnancy

An overdose of folic acid is considered to be consumption of more than 40,000 mcg (40 mg) per day - this is a hundredfold excess of the dose. This amount of folic acid can cause an allergic reaction.

Although it is believed that an overdose of folic acid does not harm the body, since excess is easily eliminated from the body through urine, a number of studies have shown the harmful effects of long-term use of large doses:

• children whose mothers significantly exceeded the dose of folic acid during pregnancy are prone to bronchial asthma and colds;
• people with pathologies of the cardiovascular system may develop coronary insufficiency, myocardial infarction or other diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• allergic reactions and symptoms of intoxication are possible;
• sleep disturbance and increased excitability;
• with a large amount of folic acid in the body, a deficiency of zinc and vitamin B12 appears.

What are the risks of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy?

As already noted, folic acid deficiency can provoke neural tube defects in the fetus. The formation of the neural tube occurs between and day of pregnancy, after which the transformation of the tube into the brain and spinal cord begins. If this process is disrupted, there is a risk of such pathologies as: spina bifida, incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spine, severe brain hypoplasia, brain herniation.

Moreover, scientists agree that taking vitamin B9 may help reduce the risk of other defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate. The pregnant woman herself is at risk of developing folic acid deficiency.

What foods contain folic acid?

The main thing to remember here is that it is much easier for our body to obtain folic acid from synthetic preparations than from food. This is why doctors prescribe this substance in supplement form. Most prenatal vitamins also contain folic acid. Taking folic acid is especially relevant for. In any case, the amount of vitamin that is optimal for you should be discussed with your doctor.

During pregnancy, everyone understands that the nutrients entering the body of the expectant mother provide not only for her, but also for the baby actively developing inside her. However, not all beneficial nutritional components are of equal importance during this period; among them, there are those whose balance is especially important during pregnancy. One of them is vitamin B9, folic acid, which is sometimes even called the “women’s vitamin.”

Beneficial properties of folic acid

In order to appreciate the role of vitamin B9 during pregnancy, it is important to understand what folic acid is, why women (and men) need it, and what role it plays in our body.

It can be said without exaggeration that the amount of this particular substance largely determines what kind of blood we have.

And if we consider that blood, as we know, performs the function of delivering nutrients to all our organs and “removing” all sorts of nasty things from them, ensuring water balance in the body, and also protecting it from foreign cells, it becomes clear that folic acid, indirectly providing all these functions, it is truly necessary for all organs of our body without exception.

Did you know? In the body of an adult woman, the blood volume is about five liters, in men it is about 20% more, in school-age children - about three liters.

Its deficiency causes anemia, which is characterized, in addition to a decrease in the amount of red fluid, also by a change in its quality - a drop in the level of hemoglobin in it, and this is weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness and even loss of consciousness.

As a derivative of the above, folic acid provides:

• normal functioning of our heart;
• maintaining immunity;
• normal intestinal microflora;
• active cell division and tissue growth (let's remember this, because we are exploring the importance of folic acid in relation to pregnant women);
• synthesis of enzymes, amino acids, as well as DNA and RNA chains;
• liver and digestive system health;
• correct nervous reactions (excitation and inhibition), including smoothing out negative emotions (which is why it is sometimes called the “good mood vitamin” or “happiness vitamin”).

Why do pregnant women need it?

The absence of a deficiency of vitamin B9 during pregnancy is the key to the normal development of the fetus and the well-being of the mother.

The risk of premature termination of pregnancy, the development of congenital pathologies (especially the brain and spinal cord) and mental retardation of the baby is also significantly reduced, as is the likelihood of the so-called defect in the development of the fetal neural tube, from which, in fact, the child’s brain and spinal cord are formed, due to with which such pathology in complex cases is even an indication for artificial termination of pregnancy.
In addition, which is also important, a normal supply of folic acid in the mother’s body will allow her to recover physically and emotionally after pregnancy much easier in the future, because, no matter what anyone says, the birth of a child is a serious burden on the female body.

Did you know? Vitamin B9 is needed not only by a pregnant woman, but also by a woman who is just planning to become a mother. That is why in the civilized world people make such decisions consciously and begin to prepare their bodies in advance - as a result of pathologies, tears, and tragedies, much fewer subsequently occur!

It is especially important to compensate in advance for the lack of this substance in the body for women who took hormonal oral contraceptives or abused alcohol.

Daily intake of vitamin B9 during pregnancy

Folic acid is necessary during pregnancy, but, like any vitamins, it must be taken in doses.

Important! The rule “the more the better” is categorically inapplicable not only to medicines, but also to vitamins, and during pregnancy, by breaking this rule, you risk not only your health, but also the health or even the life of your unborn child (however, how will As stated below, with regard to vitamin B9, excessive efforts harm more the woman herself than the baby, but it is still better to be reasonable and listen to the doctor’s advice)!

Doctors recommend that a pregnant woman take 400 mcg of vitamin B9 per day, which is why this substance is usually dosed in tablets so that it is taken once during the day. However, we must understand that we are talking about the average situation of taking folic acid during pregnancy - the dosage for a “normal” mother during a normal pregnancy (the so-called prophylactic dose).
The doctor may decide to increase the usual daily dose of the “female vitamin”, sometimes by an order of magnitude (ten times!) or even more, in case of diagnosed pathology in the development of the fetal neural tube, as well as in cases where the expectant mother suffers from certain diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus , epilepsy, pathologies of the small intestine or stomach, etc.) and is being treated with certain medications. In addition, an indication for increasing the dosage may be identified pathologies in relatives that increase the risk of hereditary defects in the infant.

Important! The tablet (or tablets) should be taken before meals, in which case the active substance is better absorbed. And for maximum effect, it is necessary to take vitamin B12 along with folic acid, since these two substances, when interacting, enhance the beneficial properties of each other, and vice versa, in the absence of one, the beneficial effect of the other is sharply reduced.

Folate deficiency

We have already mentioned the dangers of a lack of folic acid in the body of an expectant mother. External signs of such a deficiency primarily manifest themselves in a change in the general emotional state of a woman: she becomes depressed or, on the contrary, overly restless, irritable, feels unreasonably anxious, and cannot concentrate.
Memory and digestion deteriorate, the mucous membrane of the mouth becomes inflamed, and the tongue becomes bright red. Hair may begin to turn gray. In particularly severe cases, atherosclerosis may also develop and even a stroke or heart attack may occur.

Important! Symptoms of overdose in especially severe cases are indigestion, kidney disorders, severe nervous agitation, and (oddly enough) anemia.

As for the fetus, in addition to growth retardation and the development of dangerous pathologies, the overall risk of miscarriage increases.

Overdose

It must be recognized that an overdose of vitamin B9 is less dangerous, including for pregnant women, than its deficiency.

Secondly, even in this case, an excess of vitamin in the body can pass without any serious negative consequences.
Thirdly, as already mentioned, cases of fetal development pathology as a result of an overdose of folic acid have not been reported.

That is why folic acid must be used in strict accordance with the doctor’s recommendations and after carefully studying the instructions for use, especially during pregnancy, when the body is weakened and is especially susceptible to all sorts of risks.

Did you know? It is almost impossible to replenish the daily requirement of folic acid during pregnancy from natural sources: what we are able to eat during the day contains less vitamin than our body needs. In addition, most of it is destroyed during heat treatment and simply does not enter our blood.

Sources of folic acid

Foods rich in folic acid include the green plant group - parsley, spinach, avocado, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, Iceberg lettuce, green peas, onions, etc. There is also a lot of this substance in sprouted wheat, bran, asparagus, soybeans , lentils, melon, pumpkin, lemons and oranges, yeast.

Of animal products, liver is especially useful from this point of view, as well as fish, meat and cheeses. Therefore, a healthy diet, including a large amount of greens, fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as milk, meat and fish, is, of course, necessary for a pregnant woman, but the lack of vitamins, in particular folic acid, must be replenished by taking special medications and strictly as prescribed doctor