Folic acid during pregnancy. What role does it play in the formation of a child, what threatens the future baby with the absence of this element in the body of a pregnant woman, you will learn from this article.
Folic acid when planning pregnancy
Are you preparing for the most important event in your life - the birth of a little man and want him to be healthy and happy? So, already when planning a pregnancy, you need to consciously take care of taking useful substances especially folic acid.
It is known that in the first 8-12 weeks after conception, the development of the most important human organs occurs. But many women find out that she will be a mother a little later, when the bookmark is already in full swing. the most important organs at the fetus. Therefore, it is important to accumulate nutrients in advance so that the future little man is provided with everything necessary from the very first days of his appearance.
Attention: the need of the female body for individual elements rises to 130%2, but you can't get that amount of vitamins from food. For this to happen, you would have to consume an incredible amount of food, and this is unrealistic.
In addition, this vitamin is destroyed during heat treatment, which means that all foods must be eaten raw.
Benefits of folic acid for pregnant women
B9 derivatives or folates play an invaluable role in the creation of new blood cells. And their deficiency leads to anemia, which leads to the failure of the blood to perform its functions.
But folate plays another important role:
- Stimulating the creation of DNA and RNA - the nucleus of all body cells. Therefore, they are required by the body for the rapid division of the cells of a growing embryo.
- They also resist the formation and growth of cancerous tumors.
- Contribute to the restoration of muscle tissue.
- Participate in the laying, development nervous system embryo, in the creation of vessels of the placenta.
The mother-to-be must know that in the first trimester of pregnancy, the development of the neural tube of the embryo takes place, namely, this process requires a huge amount of folic acid.
The lack of this element occurs due to the following problems in the body:
- Low dietary intake of folate.
- Poor absorption of B9 derivatives (for gastrointestinal diseases).
- Genetic disorders, that is, the acid is not converted to folates. The body is accumulating harmful products metabolism, which leads to heart disease, tumors, infertility, miscarriages.
Consequences of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy
On the early dates During pregnancy, the future spinal cord and brain are formed, and young parents should know what the wrong development of nerve tissues can turn out to be for the baby. These are the most dire consequences for a child at an early age (weak legs, slow development, anuresis), often his death, even disability, and in old age - dementia.
Therefore, 3 months before conception start taking folic acid tablets. If the pregnancy is not planned, then as soon as you find out that you will become a mother, immediately visit the doctor so that he prescribes the necessary vitamin complexes.
Dosage before conception 400 mcg per day. By taking just one tablet, you will reduce the risk of having a sick baby.
How much to drink during pregnancy? Up to 12 weeks, 400 mcg. With epilepsy and diabetes, the norm increases to 1 mg per day. And if you already have children with malformations, then up to 4 mg per day. But the increase in dose occurs after a complete examination.
Preparations with this element almost do not cause undesirable effects. But sometimes their use can cause nausea, insomnia, bloating, unexpected irritability, a bitter taste in the mouth. Be sure to tell your doctor about this, perhaps he will reduce the dosage or prescribe a different drug.
Until what gestational age do they take folic acid
The acceptance of this element is justified, moreover, it is necessary at the stage of planning the birth of a baby, as well as in the 1st trimester after conception. After 12 weeks, it is better to switch to natural vitamin B 9.
Although there are experts who say that the female body needs B9 for life, and during pregnancy, you should not stop taking it after 12 weeks. In any case, only a gynecologist should prescribe the dosage and time of use.
Products containing folic acid
Vegetarians, as a rule, are not familiar with vitamin B9 deficiency, because. it is found in green leaves and vegetables. Other people with insufficient intake of plant foods (especially in winter) should definitely take an additional vitamin complex.
An important element is found in: green leaves of spinach, lettuce, onions, asparagus, parsley, cabbage; green peas; avocado; cheese, kefir; citruses; pastries made from wholemeal flour; pumpkin; caviar; fruits: apricots, melon, peaches; sunflower seeds; beans; yeast; egg yolk; walnuts; dry milk, cottage cheese.
It is available in products:
- tomatoes, oranges,
- bran, eggs, green pea,
- carrots, beans, beets,
- buckwheat and oatmeal, millet,
- And also it is found in the liver, meat, kidneys, cottage cheese, cheese.
What does folate deficiency lead to?
Many women do not fully understand why take this element? The most terrible thing can happen - congenital deformity, for example, a wolf's mouth, cleft lip, cerebral hernia, mental disorders. Perhaps retarded mental development, absent-mindedness, or, conversely, violent physical activity. Such is the price of B9 deficiency in the body!
If a woman drank oral contraceptives, then she has a clear deficiency of folic acid. The expectant mother herself may notice that she has a small supply of this element. Already 1-4 weeks after conception, she has obvious symptoms:
- Bad appetite
- Weakness, fatigue,
- Irritability,
- Hair loss,
- And after childbirth - depression.
Don't ignore these harmless symptoms. It turns out that even strong tea helps to remove this valuable vitamin from the body. Perhaps, therefore, its deficiency occurs in 25-100% of the population.
Folic acid preparations
Each drug has instructions, but it is not recommended to take it on your own, without a prescription, as the doctor will prescribe the dose according to your indications.
How to use? For example, Elevit is recommended to drink daily 1 time per day, with meals. It can be drunk not only in the first 3 months of waiting for the baby, but also during lactation.
There are only pills folic acid, containing 1 mg (1000 mcg) of this element. Only a doctor can tell you about the dosage.
The Folio preparation contains 400 mcg of B9 and 200 mcg of iodine. The drug is prescribed for iodine and B9 deficiency, which is very convenient.
The Foliber complex also includes vitamin B12. With prolonged intake of B9, the amount of the above element decreases, which also affects the general well-being of a woman, therefore, Foliber will provide the body with two types of useful substances.
Pentovit deserved positive feedback. After taking it, women began to fall asleep easier, an optimistic view of the world appeared, nails and hair look good. Many women prefer the Vitrum complex, calling it a magical remedy.
Some women fear an overdose of folic acid. Experts are in a hurry to reassure - this does not happen, since its excess is quickly excreted from the body.
It is important to know that in our body there is practically no need for the amount of this important element, which is why its daily intake is recommended, especially for women who are carrying a baby.
Can I take it for 9 months? For women, it is important to take in the 1st trimester, and then you can replenish with products.
Contraindications for taking folic acid
Folic acid stimulates growth cancer cells, upon detection of oncology, it should be forgotten for a while.
A contraindication to the use of vitamin B9 is renal failure and pyelonephritis, the problem is that folic acid initiates the proliferation of the epithelium of the renal tubules.
In some cases, the reaction to taking vitamin B9 is not quite adequate, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea begin, sleep disappears, cramps, severe abdominal pain occur, in which case the doctor determines the dosage and the need to take folic acid.
Do not prescribe vitamin B9 for B12 deficiency anemia, since folic acid neutralizes vitamin B12 and worsens the patient's condition.
Dear women, folic acid is the element whose importance for expectant mothers is not denied even by vehement opponents of synthetic complexes. Therefore, do not refuse to take folic acid during pregnancy to protect your baby from many serious diseases.
This is an essential vitamin in the diet of expectant mothers. Although scientists still cannot fully explain why folic acid for pregnant women plays such a significant role in the process of preventing neural tube disorders, it is unequivocally proven that vitamin B9 is very important in the development of DNA. Therefore, taking folic acid is especially important during pregnancy.
Folic acid requirement for pregnant women
Folic acid is simply necessary in the process of formation, life 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 shown that taking folic acid (vitamin B9) from 400 mcg (0.4 mg) to 800 mcg per day before pregnancy and later in its early stages significantly (by 50% - 70%) reduces the risk of having a baby with some neural tube defects.
Especially relevant is the intake of 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 intended conception.
How to take folic acid during early pregnancy
During pregnancy - 400 mcg / day, during lactation - 300 mcg / day. Once a day, with meals. The course of admission lasts throughout the entire stage of pregnancy planning and another 12 weeks after conception.
Folic acid overdose during pregnancy
An overdose of folic acid is considered to be the use 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 folic acid overdose is not considered to be harmful to the body, as the excess is easily excreted in the urine, a number of studies have shown the detrimental 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;
- in people with pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the development of coronary insufficiency, myocardial infarction or other diseases of the cardiovascular system is possible;
- 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 the day of pregnancy, after which the transformation of the tube into the brain and spinal cord begins. In case of violations of this process, there is a risk of such pathologies as spina bifida, incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spine, severe cerebral hypoplasia, brain herniation.
What's more, scientists agree that taking vitamin B9 may help reduce the risk of other defects, such as cleft lip and palate. For the most pregnant woman, folic acid deficiency threatens to occur.
What foods contain folic acid
The main thing to remember here is that it is much easier for our body to get folic acid from synthetic drugs than from food. That is why doctors prescribe this substance in the form of supplements. Most prenatal vitamin complexes also contain folic acid. Of particular relevance is the intake of folic acid for. In any case, the amount of vitamin that is optimal for you should be agreed with your doctor. 
Women planning to become pregnant should carefully and consciously prepare for this period: lead a healthy lifestyle, please themselves, and not get upset over trifles. In addition, you need to start taking special drugs. One of these is folic acid for pregnant women.
When to take folic acid during pregnancy
Folic acid or vitamin B9 plays an important role in the formation of new blood cells. The lack of such a substance often leads to anemia, and the use of the drug is also important for replication, cell growth, and antimicrobial therapy. Often at a gynecologist's appointment, when prescribing a substance, women are interested in why drink folic acid during pregnancy? According to experts, every pregnant woman needs B9, because. it is able to prevent some defects in the development of the baby's central nervous system.
It is advisable to start using the drug even during pregnancy planning, because all the processes involving the drug that occur during the formation of the fetus proceed for a short time - that is, when future mom doesn't even know about the baby. It is necessary that folic acid enters the female body during pregnancy in the first weeks, since this period is the main one in the formation of the neural tube in the embryo.
Benefits of folic acid for pregnant women
Vitamin B9 stimulates the formation of nucleic acids, which are the basis of all cells in the body. The drug is necessary for all rapidly dividing tissues in humans. Moreover, useful properties substance is that it:
- stimulates blood formation;
- blocks the formation of cancer cells;
- restores muscles during pregnancy;
- participates in the creation of the placenta;
- contributes to the normal functioning of the digestive tract;
- participates in metabolism.
How to take folic acid during pregnancy
It is advisable to use Vitamin B9 for all expectant mothers for the prevention of anemia (up to 12 weeks). The decision on how to take folic acid during pregnancy is up to the gynecologist. In our country, the norm for women who are expecting a baby is 1000 mcg - this is one tablet, but some mothers, according to the results of the tests, may be prescribed high doses. This applies to patients in whom, during the examination, defects in the development of the fetus were found.
In tablets
A popular drug with a low price - folic acid for expectant mothers satisfies all the needs for vitamins. The remedy can only be prescribed by a doctor: based on the characteristics of the course of pregnancy, it is necessary to drink 1-3 tablets one or three times a day. For the prevention of the disease, only one capsule of 1 mg is taken, the dosage of the drug in women with vitamin deficiency is greatly increased - up to 5 mg.
Vitamin B9 is found in almost all multivitamins prescribed by a gynecologist during pregnancy. When taking such complexes, there is no need to separately consume folic acid, if there is no indication for this. Folio is considered one of the most popular drugs for expectant mothers - this complex contains vitamin B9 (400 mg) and iodine (200 mg). It is necessary to take one tablet per day. Multivitamins containing vitamin B9:
- Multitabs-prenatal contains 400 mg of the substance;
- in Materna and Elevit is 1 mg of the substance;
- the composition of Pregnavit will provide a substance for 750 mcg;
- Vitrum Prenatal contains 800 mg of the vitamin.
Vegetarians, as a rule, are not familiar with vitamin B9 deficiency, because. it is found in green leaves and vegetables. Other people with insufficient intake of plant foods (especially in winter) should definitely take an additional vitamin complex. An important element is found in:
- green leaves of spinach, lettuce, onion, asparagus, parsley, cabbage;
- green peas;
- avocado;
- cheese, kefir;
- citruses;
- pastries made from wholemeal flour;
- pumpkin;
- caviar;
- fruits: apricots, melon, peaches;
- sunflower seeds;
- beans;
- yeast;
- egg yolk;
- walnuts;
- dry milk, cottage cheese;
- beef liver.
How much folic acid should a pregnant woman drink
For normal functioning, an adult should drink 0.2 mg of vitamin B9, but when carrying a baby, the need for a substance increases. The daily dose of folic acid for pregnant women is 1000 mcg - this is one tablet. Many women are confused by such numbers, but do not worry. An excess of a substance occurs only when a person drinks 25 tablets at a time. In other cases, an excess of the vitamin is excreted without any special consequences.
For health problems ( diabetes, intestinal diseases, epilepsy) and a pronounced lack of a substance in a woman, the doctor may prescribe strong drugs that contain vitamin B9: Apo-folic (price 200 rubles) or Folacin (price 125 rubles). One tablet of such drugs contains 5 mg of folacin, and this is already considered a therapeutic dose.
The norm of folic acid during pregnancy in the 1st trimester
The first months of gestation of the embryo is the most important period, because. further pregnancy, the formation and development of the fetus depends on it. In the 1st trimester, you should make sure that the female body receives the required amount of all minerals and vitamins. This is especially true for folic acid, which early stage can prevent the development of damage to the nervous system of the baby. Only a small part of the substances can be absorbed with food, so it is necessary to take medical products with vitamin B9.
When carrying a baby, the daily dose of the drug may be different, in the first 3 months it is necessary to use 0.4 mg 2 times a day. Often the substance is part of the complexes, but it is better to take it separately. Tablets should be taken at the same time and preferably before meals. They should be washed down with plain plain water. It is not recommended to use the drug with coffee, tea or packaged juices.
Until what time of pregnancy to take
Expectant mothers are introduced to the drug, which contains a useful element, at the first consultation. Many doctors believe that as a separate remedy it should be taken only for the first 3 months, then you should switch to a vitamin complex for pregnant women. Although there are experts who say that the female body needs B9 for life, and during pregnancy, you should not stop taking it after 12 weeks. In any case, only a gynecologist should prescribe the dosage and time of use.
Side effects of taking folic acid
For humans, vitamin B9 is completely non-toxic, the drug practically does not side effects. An overdose of a drug during pregnancy can occur only if the daily dose is exceeded by 100 times. Rarely, the drug causes an allergy, which may occur due to individual intolerance to the substance. Long-term use of high doses can adversely affect the health of a woman and a baby. The instructions for the drug say that with a high concentration of it in the body, the following side effects occur:
- the content of cyanocobalamin in the blood decreases, which can provoke anemia in a pregnant woman;
- changes in kidney function;
- hyperexcitability;
- gastrointestinal disorder.
The price of folic acid during pregnancy
Vitamin B9 preparations are sold in tablets without a prescription at any pharmacy. The average price of a medicine is from 30 to 80 rubles. You can also buy folic acid inexpensively in large supermarkets, where there is a pharmacy, and in addition, the vitamin can be bought and ordered from an online pharmacy. In this case, the cost of the product will depend on the company of the country of manufacture and the form of release.
Any woman who plans to soon become pregnant and become a mother should consciously and carefully prepare for this new status. And if everyone knows about a healthy lifestyle, parting with bad habits and walking in the fresh air, then future mothers often ignore taking certain vitamins and medicines before pregnancy. One such remedy is folic acid.
What is folic acid?
Folic acid is vitamin B9. Often you can hear the generalized name - folates, they are derivatives of this vitamin. We must understand that we get them from food, and folic acid tablets are a synthetic agent that is already converted into folates inside the body.
All derivatives of vitamin B9 play an important role in hematopoiesis, that is, the formation of new blood cells. Therefore, the lack of these substances leads to anemia - a condition in which red blood cells are not enough, or they have irregular shape and do not perform their functions.
Folates have another very important feature: they stimulate the formation of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), which are the basis of all body cells. Therefore, it is folic acid that is necessary for all rapidly dividing human tissues, including embryonic tissues.
The role of folic acid:
- participates in the formation of DNA of all cells, that is, the source of hereditary information
- stimulates hematopoiesis
- indirectly blocks the formation of cancer cells
- restores muscle tissue
- during pregnancy:
- plays a role in the laying and development of the nervous tissue of the embryo
- participates in the formation of placental blood vessels
Why is folate needed during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, especially in the early stages, the consumption of folate increases dramatically. All cells of the embryo are intensively dividing in order to eventually form full-fledged tissues. The nervous tissue of the future man is transformed especially quickly and difficultly. And it is she who requires a large amount of folic acid.
Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy can occur for the following reasons:
- Insufficient dietary folate intake
- Folate malabsorption (in chronic inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines)
- Genetic disorders of the folate cycle. In rare cases, a woman's body lacks the necessary enzymes (MTHFR). As a result, folic acid is not converted to folates, and they do not perform the necessary functions. Intermediate metabolic products accumulate in the body, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases, tumor processes, infertility, etc. In the presence of such a mutation, it is recommended to take folic acid derivatives, for example, Metafolin. It is absorbed faster and in greater volume.
- Taking certain anti-epilepsy drugs and hormonal drugs dramatically reduces the level of folate in the blood:
- oral contraceptives (see)
- barbiturates, diphenylhydantoin
- sulfa drugs (for example,), which inhibit the synthesis of vitamin B9 by intestinal microflora
- drinking alcohol also lowers their levels
How does the body get folic acid?
3 sources of folic acid:
- From food - as folate
- A small amount of vitamin B9 is synthesized by the body itself (intestinal microflora) during the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - in the form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
- Chemical folic acid - from vitamin supplements
Folates were first isolated from spinach leaves. Subsequently, it turned out that they are present in large quantities in almost all leafy vegetables. Other sources of folate include citrus fruits, green peas, bread, liver, nutritional yeast, cheeses, eggs, and cottage cheese.
If there are so many foods that contain folate, then why do you need to take folic acid tablets during pregnancy?
- Technological progress and the market economy are forcing plant and animal food producers to accelerate the growth of animals on the farm and the cultivation of greens and vegetables in the greenhouse, respectively, less of the natural isomer of folic acid accumulates in products. As a result, reference information from old printed publications on the content of folates in various products is currently not relevant and overestimated.
- The main disadvantage of "natural" folates is the rapid destruction during heat treatment. Cooking, frying and stewing destroy almost 90% of the vitamin. But even eating raw foods does not guarantee the intake of the right amount into the blood. Moreover, vitamin B9 is sensitive to conditions and shelf life:
- when boiling an egg, 50% of vitamin B9 is destroyed
- after 3 days, the greens lose it up to 70%
- in meat after heat treatment - up to 95%
- The presence of a person with chronic diseases of the intestines, stomach does not allow the vitamin to be absorbed in full.
Therefore, about 60% of the population suffers from folate deficiency, and the body of a healthy pregnant woman receives a little more than 50% of the daily folic acid from food.
However, numerous studies by scientists have established that the body recognizes how folic acid enters the body and its absorption directly depends on this. Of course, coming from natural sources it is better absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract even with metabolic disorders and gastric acidity and therefore has serious advantages in comparison with synthetic folic acid.
The body's own synthesized folic acid in the form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate does not interact as strongly with other drugs and does not mask the hematological signs of vitamin B12 deficiency as synthetic folic acid. In addition, it excludes the possible negative consequences of an excess of unreacted vitamin B9 in peripheral vessels.
But in order to provide the body of a pregnant woman with folates (and the need for them increases by 50 percent), you need to eat a huge amount of the above foods daily. In modern conditions, this is impossible, and given the decrease in its amount in modern products, it is ineffective. Modern preparations of folic acid contain the required amount, are safe for a pregnant woman at the recommended dosage and are quite well studied.
Consequences of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy
Maternal pathologies:
- violation of hematopoiesis in a woman: anemia, low resistance to infections and a tendency to form blood clots.
- reduced tolerance for physical and mental stress
These symptoms are characteristic of women with a hereditary defect in the genes responsible for the folate cycle. Usually, symptoms of vitamin deficiency occur even before pregnancy, combined with iron deficiency anemia and diseases of the cardiovascular system. In case of gene disorders, it is necessary to take large doses of folic acid with the obligatory control of a blood test, only under the constant supervision of a specialist.
Fetal pathologies:
- neural tube defects in the fetus
- miscarriage:) and intrauterine fetal death
- defective placenta and, as a result, oxygen starvation of the fetus
Neural tube defects in the fetus
Already in the third week after conception, a tube with a thickening at the end is formed in the embryo - the future spinal cord and brain. Under the influence of adverse factors, including folic acid deficiency, the construction of this neural tube may be disturbed or stopped. As a result, very serious, sometimes incompatible with life, malformations of the fetus are formed.
- Anencephaly is the absence of most of the brain. The defect is incompatible with life, therefore, after confirming the diagnosis with the help of ultrasound, termination of pregnancy is recommended.
- A cephalocele is a split in the skull through which the meninges or the brain itself can bulge. Depending on the degree of tissue swelling, the prognosis may vary from lethal to favorable.
- Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect. Through the defect of the vertebrae, the spinal canal is exposed, and the membranes of the spinal cord bulge. Depending on the level of damage to the vertebrae and the degree of bulging, the prognosis also depends: a quarter of children die in the first days of life, most become disabled, and only a small percentage of babies do not have problems with urination and movement in the legs in the future.
Not all the consequences of folic acid deficiency can be detected during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth. Minimal disorders of the nervous tissue make themselves felt in adulthood by difficulties in learning and concentration. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have conducted a number of studies proving the connection between B9 deficiency and emotional disorders in children.
In perfectly healthy women who eat a full and varied diet, a lack of folic acid may not affect their well-being. First of all, the fetus and placenta will suffer, and already in the very early stages. Therefore, drinking folic acid during pregnancy means taking care of the health of the unborn baby.
At what stage of pregnancy should you take folic acid supplements?
Folic acid intake in order to prevent fetal malformations should be started even at the stage of preparation for pregnancy, at least three months before the intended conception. That is why pregnancy should be planned. If conception occurred unexpectedly, then you need to start taking the drug as soon as it became known.
Reasons for taking folates at the stage of pregnancy planning:
- With an unbalanced diet, a woman can have a reduced level of folic acid, so it takes time to replenish her reserves. It usually takes three to four months.
- The neural tube of the fetus is laid at such an early stage that a woman may not even be aware of the pregnancy, especially with a long menstrual cycle.
- Folate deficiency can make pregnancy difficult.
Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy
In most cases, three months before conception and throughout pregnancy, you need to take 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. In some cases, the dosage is advised to increase:
- up to 1 mg per day for epilepsy and diabetes
- up to 4 mg daily if there have been children with neural tube defects in the past
Increased doses of folate can only be prescribed by a doctor after a thorough examination.
The dose of folic acid during pregnancy remains the same.
So, in the USA, all women planning a pregnancy should take the drug at a dose of 400-800 mcg per day a month before conception and during 3 months of pregnancy. Moreover, these recommendations exist in conjunction with the enrichment of food products with folates (for example, adding them to pasta), which is not observed in our country. And right! Why add a vitamin to the product, which is destroyed during further 10 minutes of cooking? If you take synthetic folic acid, it is better in tablet form!
Consequences of excess folic acid
Vitamin B9 belongs to water-soluble substances, so all of its excess is successfully excreted by the kidneys. It is very difficult to arrange an overdose of folic acid during pregnancy, when the vitamin becomes toxic and has an adverse effect on the fetus. This vitamin should be used with caution when:
- severe pathology of the liver and kidneys in a pregnant woman
- hereditary defects in the gene responsible for folate metabolism. An excess of folic acid can further disrupt the balance in this cycle, leading to the same consequences for the fetus as vitamin deficiency. The intake of this substance in such patients should be monitored by a physician.
- allergic reactions to synthetic vitamins
The effect of folic acid on fetal development has been studied for a very long time and everywhere. Scientists from Newcastle University have noted cases of children born with altered folate cycle genes from mothers who took this drug. That is, for the processing of external folic acid, nature “invented” a new gene. Everything would be fine, but some human diseases can be associated with this gene.
These studies were not widely disseminated, since the theory was not confirmed in practice. But the reduction in the incidence of malformations of embryos in mothers taking folic acid has been confirmed by numerous studies around the world. The number of cases of spina bifida after the widespread introduction of folic acid has decreased by a quarter.
In the early 90s, in the United States, they even tried to enrich food with this vitamin, which did not lead to the desired results, since the dosage of folic acid during pregnancy should be at least 2 times more than usual. Considering that mainly flour, high-calorie foods were enriched with vitamins, the target audience (pregnant and lactating women) tried to avoid them.
There are suggestions that an overdose of folic acid during pregnancy can lead to an increase in the body weight of the child, an increase in the risk of developing obesity and diabetes in the child in the future, as well as a tendency to allergies, bronchial asthma, and may lead to impaired immunity. But these are only assumptions, there are no convincing studies confirming such risks.
Conclusion: compelling evidence negative influence There is no standard dosage of folic acid for a healthy pregnant woman. There have been studies that have confirmed that taking even 15 mg per day is non-toxic. But like any synthetic substance, this the drug must be used strictly in the required dosage. Moreover, the positive effect on the nervous tissue of the fetus at a dosage of 400 mg and 4 mg differs slightly. Therefore, the doctor decides how much folic acid during pregnancy each woman should take.
With regard to folic acid intake by non-pregnant women, high doses and long time, then a constant overdose can lead to sad consequences. Exceeding the recommended dose may result in:
- men are 2 times more likely to develop
- taking folic acid in a non-pregnant woman at a dosage of 500-850 mcg per day increases the risk of breast adenocarcinoma by 20%, more than 850 mcg - by 70%
- in the elderly, long-term overdose causes a disorder of psycho-social functions
Symptoms of an overdose of folic acid:
- metallic taste in the mouth
- irritability, irritability, sleep disturbance (see)
- gastrointestinal disorders: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, (but similar symptoms also accompany toxicosis of the 1st trimester)
- kidney disorders
- one of the serious consequences of an overdose is zinc deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency
Tests to determine the level of folic acid
A blood test for the level of folic acid is prescribed for patients with anemia to determine its cause or for patients with homocysteinemia. Healthy pregnant women do not need such an analysis, since when taking folate, the level of this substance in the blood will be higher than normal in any case. And it is absolutely physiological. Folic acid when planning pregnancy is prescribed regardless of its initial amount in the body.
How to take folic acid?
The modern pharmaceutical industry offers huge selection preparations containing folate. Most of them differ only in dosage and price.
Many folic acid tablets come in the inconvenient 1mg dosage and have to be broken in half. It is better to find folic acid in the dosage of 400-500 micrograms needed for most pregnant women. How to take the drug for pregnant women with homocysteinemia is determined by the attending physician.
The pharmaceutical market in recent years offers a large selection of multivitamin complexes created specifically for pregnant women. Such funds should be taken only by people living in extremely unfavorable conditions and having a poor diet. Modern woman for a successful and healthy pregnancy needed:
- folic acid in the amount of 400 mcg per day
- (potassium iodide) in deficient areas
- with the appearance of anemia - iron supplements
The use of multivitamin complexes to compensate for folate deficiency can be considered inappropriate. Folic acid is one of the few medicines, the effectiveness and safety of which during pregnancy has been proven in numerous studies. Taking just one tablet a day is simple, inexpensive and reliable way reduce the risk of serious diseases of the baby and give him a full life!
Dosage of folic acid
What are the best folic acid supplements to take?
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400 mcg. 30 pcs. 120 rub. |
1000 mcg. 50 pcs. 40 rub. half a tablet a day |
1000 mcg. 50 pcs. 25-30 rub. (half a tablet) |
200 mcg. 90 caps. 110 rub. 2 tab. in a day |
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400 mcg. 100 pieces. 500 rub. |
400 mcg. 100 pieces. 300 rub. |
1000 mcg. 50 pcs. 25-30 rub. (half a table per day) |
1000 mcg. 50 pcs. 30 rub. (half a table per day) |
Instructions for use of folic acidIndications: prevention of the development of neural tube defects in the fetus in the 1st trimester of pregnancy (1-3 months before the planned pregnancy and in the first trimester), as well as in folic acid deficiency.
Dosage: during pregnancy 400-800 mcg in the 1st trimester, with folic acid deficiency - 400 mcg once a day. |
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Frequently asked questions about folic acid
In the previous 5 years I had 3 pregnancies that ended at 10 weeks. What dosage of folic acid do I need?
Three or more missed pregnancies are a reason for examining a married couple. After it, the doctor will most likely prescribe 4 mg of folic acid per day.
The doctor prescribed 1 mg of folic acid per day. It turned out that I was allergic to her. What should I do?
An allergic reaction in this case is associated with the components of the tablets (dyes, sweeteners). You can try changing the drug or switching to injections.
I accidentally drank 2 folic acid tablets of 500 mcg, that is, 1 mg per day. Is it dangerous?
This dose is not toxic and will not harm you or your baby. Continue taking 1 tablet daily.
I am 39 years old, we have been planning a pregnancy for six months. The doctor prescribed 4 mg of folic acid, as at my age there is a risk of its deficiency and termination of pregnancy. Is such a large dose necessary?
The risk of interruption in your case increases somewhat due to age, and not due to folate deficiency. Therefore, such an increase in the dosage of the drug is impractical.
Folic acid is one of the first drugs that is prescribed to all women who find out about their pregnancy. Sometimes gynecologists advise taking folic acid even at the stage of pregnancy planning.
In this article, we will analyze the need to prescribe folic acid to pregnant women, the timing of the appointment, the permissible doses of the drug and the duration of the intake.
Why is folic acid so important for pregnant women?
Folic acid belongs to the B vitamins. It is a water-soluble vitamin B 9 . In the human body, it is able to be synthesized by the microflora of the large intestine.
But it is synthesized in the intestine in a small amount. This amount is not enough to cover daily requirement in him.
Where to get the missing amount of folic acid? From food. But even with a variety of proper nutrition a person often does not receive the daily requirement of folic acid.
During heat treatment of the product or as a result of prolonged exposure to sunlight, vitamin B 9 is destroyed.
Therefore, during pregnancy, a deficiency of folic acid inevitably occurs in a woman's body. In this regard, even ardent opponents of taking medications during pregnancy do not neglect the intake of folic acid.
It is especially important to fill this deficit in the early stages - during the period of active growth of the fetus, the laying of all its organs and systems. It is in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy that folic acid should enter the body of a woman in large quantities.
Vitamin B 9 is involved in the process of cell division. Without the normal process of cell division, organogenesis (laying the organs and systems of the body) is impossible.
Also, folic acid is necessary for hematopoiesis, the formation of blood cells (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes). And this is also very important not only for the fetus, but also for the mother's body. After all, anemia during pregnancy is a fairly common problem.
A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to fetal malformations (defects of the spinal column, anomalies in the development of the maxillofacial region of the child, and others).
The role of folic acid in the laying and formation of the neural tube, the rudiment of the future fetal nervous system, is very important.
Therefore, among the pathologies of fetal development in conditions of folic acid deficiency, malformations of the nervous system are possible. For example, various developmental disorders of the brain can lead to fetal death, stillbirth, or the birth of a sick child.
Folic acid plays an important role in the synthesis of amino acids and nucleotides.
The proteins of the child's body are built from amino acids.
DNA is built from nucleotides - the carrier of the genetic information of the body. Therefore, at a normal concentration of folic acid, the structure of DNA molecules is formed without damage and mutations.
If folic acid is not enough in the body of a pregnant woman, then over time, a toxic substance, homocysteine, begins to accumulate. It can damage the walls of blood vessels, which during pregnancy can lead to sad consequences.
Damage to the vascular wall is fraught with premature detachment of the placenta, which can lead to premature birth.
Also elevated level homocysteine may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin B 9 takes part in the formation of the placenta and its vessels. Therefore, its lack can lead to uteroplacental insufficiency.
With a deficiency of folic acid, the mother's body also suffers. Vitamin deficiency provokes the development of anemia, toxicosis, depression.
Why is folic acid needed at the stage of pregnancy planning?
Folic acid affects the structure of cell division, especially the cells of the fetal nervous system. The neural tube of the baby begins to form on the 16th day after conception. This is the period when most mothers do not yet know about conception.
Therefore, in many countries of the world, gynecologists recommend that women take folic acid in advance, that is, at the stage of pregnancy planning.
It is considered optimal if the expectant mother takes folic acid for at least 3 months before conception.
If a woman did not take folic acid before pregnancy, and found out about her situation, for example, at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, you still need to start taking folic acid. Since during the entire first trimester, the fetal neural tube undergoes further differentiation.
The prophylactic dose of folic acid at the stage of pregnancy planning and during the first trimester is 400 mcg per day. Otherwise, 0.4 mg.
Only a special group of expectant mothers (women at risk) are prescribed large doses of folic acid - 800-1000 mcg per day.
The risk group for the birth of a child with congenital anomalies includes women who:
- there was a history of pregnancy that ended in the birth of a child with a pathology of the nervous system or other malformations, fetal death;
- there are cases of hereditary diseases in the family (even among family members of a distant degree of kinship);
- there are serious diseases - diabetes mellitus, megaloblastic anemia, epilepsy, metabolic diseases, peptic ulcer, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases, severe toxicosis.
With the above diseases, the processes of absorption and breakdown of folic acid are disrupted.
And also drugs used for such diseases (anticonvulsants, antacids, cytostatics, etc.) impair the absorption of folic acid.
A doctor observing a pregnant woman at risk can adjust the dose of folic acid himself, based on the results of the examination. In some cases, it may be necessary to increase the dose to 2-3 mg of folic acid per day.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that most folic acid preparations contain 1 mg of the substance in one tablet. Therefore, if you are not at risk, the pill will have to be divided. Or you need to find a drug that would contain a dose that is right for you.
Tablets should be taken orally after meals. It is also acceptable to take folic acid with meals if a woman feels nauseous after taking a tablet after eating.
How not to overdose the drug?
Many women are afraid of high doses of the drug and believe that when taking 1000 micrograms (1 mg) of folic acid, an overdose can occur.
In fact, there is no reason to worry. It is difficult to overdose on folic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin, the excess of which is easily excreted by the body.
However, you shouldn't get carried away. Long-term use of high doses of the drug can lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth, sleep disturbance, irritability, anemia (as it leads to vitamin B12 deficiency).
To date, there are two opinions among doctors about the duration of folic acid intake during pregnancy.
Some believe that taking it is enough for the first three months. And in the future, a pregnant woman is recommended to take vitamin complexes containing folic acid and eat well.
Others recommend taking folic acid throughout pregnancy and continuing during pregnancy. breastfeeding. This is explained by the fact that throughout pregnancy and lactation, the need for folic acid increases.
At the same time, a vitamin deficiency in the mother's body that is not eliminated in time will lead to its deficiency in the baby's body, since vitamin B 9 in breast milk will also be insufficient.
What should you do? Trust your doctor and his opinion. Don't trust the doctor? Change it to one you can trust.
Folic acid gets its name from the Latin word folium, meaning leaf. Because folic acid was first obtained from leafy greens.
The main sources of folic acid are green plants. These are spinach, wild garlic, parsley, lettuce, beans, lentils, beans, leeks, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green peas, avocados.
A significant amount of vitamin B 9 is found in whole grain flour (with bran), cereals with unrefined grain shells, and yeast.
Folic acid is present in the liver, meat, fish, hard cheese, but the heat treatment of such products reduces its amount by several times.
Vegetables and herbs are best eaten raw or steamed to preserve folic acid in them as much as possible.
If you infrequently use the above products, then, of course, you should use additional folic acid tablets or take vitamin-mineral complexes.
Drinking large amounts of tea negatively affects the absorption of folic acid. Moreover, tea accelerates its excretion from the body.
On the pharmaceutical market, there are single preparations containing only folic acid, and preparations with a combined composition.
Conventional folic acid tablets (single product) are available in dosages of 400 mcg, 500 mcg, 1000 mcg (depending on the manufacturer of the drug). Most often this is a dosage of 1000 mcg.
Foliber is a preparation containing folic acid (400 mcg) and vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin - 2 mcg). It is prescribed for the prevention of heart disease, anemia. May be given to pregnant women in the first trimester or those planning a pregnancy.
The drug should be used with caution in patients with impaired absorption of glucose or galactose, galactosemia or lactase deficiency, since the drug contains 23 mg of lactose per 1 tablet. One tablet is taken 1 time per day.
Folio. The composition of the drug includes 400 micrograms of folic acid and 200 micrograms of iodine. This drug contains two important elements at once for a pregnant woman in a prophylactic dose.
Folio according to the instructions should be taken once a day, preferably during a meal, one tablet. For diseases thyroid gland before taking the drug, you need to adjust the dose of the drugs already used (due to the iodine contained in the tablets).
Doppelgerz active Folic acid is a vitamin complex. Contains folic acid - 600 mcg, vitamin C - 300 mg, B 6 - 6 mcg, B 12 - 5 mcg, E - 36 mg.
A drug is prescribed for the prevention of heart disease, cerebrovascular accident, and gynecological diseases. Suitable for the prevention of hypovitaminosis during pregnancy and lactation. It is prescribed 1 tablet once a day during a meal.
Folic acid with B 6 and B 12 (Evalar). The preparation contains: folic acid - 600 mcg, vitamin B 12 - 5 mcg, vitamin B 6 - 6 mg. It is a biologically active food supplement.
Indications for use are the same as for the above drugs. The recommended course of treatment is 4-6 weeks. Take 1 tablet once daily, preferably with the first meal of the day.
Multivitamin complexes such as Elevit Pronatal, Materna, Vitrum prenatal, etc. often prescribed to pregnant women with iron deficiency, deficiency of folic acid and other vitamins during childbearing and breastfeeding.
Important: women with excess calcium in the blood should not take calcium-containing vitamin complexes for a long time.
Folic acid "9 months" and Mamifol contain 400 micrograms of folic acid. They are prescribed to prevent folic acid deficiency in women of childbearing age at the stages of pregnancy planning (1-3 months in advance) and to prevent the development of neural tube defects in the fetus. Taken 1 tablet per day.
Folacin or Apofilic is used to treat established folic acid deficiency. The preparations contain 5 mg of folic acid per tablet.
There are also iron preparations that additionally contain folic acid. These are Maltofer, Hemoferon, Fenyuls Zinc.
These drugs are mainly used for iron deficiency, folate deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. For the prevention of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy, they are not entirely suitable, since they contain a dose of folic acid below the prophylactic dose - 300 mcg.
Folic acid preparations are sold without a prescription and always remain affordable. However, a woman should not make her own decisions regarding the intake and dosage of folic acid during pregnancy.
Always check with your doctor about the required dosage, duration of administration, conditions for taking the drug and the compatibility of the drug with other medications you take. Including vitamins.
Vitamins are medicines too chemical substances, which, if mishandled, can, in combination with other substances in your body, give such chemical reaction, which will bring irreparable harm to your body and the body of your child.
Be prudent and careful when using medications. Health to you and your children!
