Chemistry Keeps Us Healthy
 

Folic Acid & Pregnancy

What is Folic acid or Folate? Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, is found in orange juice, other citrus fruits and juices, leafy green vegetables, beans, peanuts, broccoli, asparagus, peas, lentils and whole grain products.

 

 

How much folic acid should a woman take? All women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of the synthetic form of folic acid every day. The best way to this is to take a daily multivitamin pill that contains this amount of folic acid. The Institute of Medicine also recommends:  An increase in your daily intake of folic acid to 600 micrograms per day, once your pregnancy is confirmed  500 micrograms of folic acid daily for women who are breast feeding  4000 micrograms of folic acid daily for women who have had a previous NTD-affected pregnancy (starting one month before the time they plan to  become pregnant and throughout the first three months of pregnancy).  During times when these high risk women are not planning pregnancy, they should have 400 micrograms of folic acid per day.

 

What is folic acid used for?
Taking the synthetic form of folic acid can help prevent birth defects called neural tube defects (NTDs). NTDs are defects of the spine and brain. NTDs take place in the first month after conception, before most women know they are pregnant. The two most common forms of NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly.Also might help prevent heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer, and other kinds of cancer. Recent research suggests it also might help prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy

 

References:         http://www.modimes.org/professionals/681_1151.a