Folic Acid used for Prevention of Birth Defects

Posted on October 1, 2007
Filed Under Pregnancy Care | Leave a Comment

Recent research has shown that folic acid type of B vitamin-is important in the prevention of several types of birth defects called neurol tube defects. The neural tube forms the brain and spinal cord. Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, occur during the early weeks of fetal development if the tube doesn’t close completely. These conditions may be so slight as to be unnoticed or they may cause physical and mental disability along a continuum from mild to severe.To exert its preventive effect folic acid must be taken before conception and in the earliest weeks of a pregnancy. For this reason, women planning a pregnancy should take folic acid supplements as soon as they stop using birth control. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all women of childbearing age have 0.4 mg of folic acid every day.

National survey results estimate that most American women eat foods containing about 0.2 mg of folic acid daily. The additional recommended 0.2 mg can be achieved through diet.

Foods high in folic acid include -

• Leafy green vegetables

• Liver

• Yeast

• Other green vegetables

• Legumes

• Nuts

• Whole grains

• Fortified foods, such as cereals anad breads

At least one serving of these foods a day in the preconception period and during pregnancy is recommended.

Several factors may interfere with folic acid intake -

• Much of the vitamin’s activity can be lost in storage and cooking.

• The hormones in oral contraceptives may interfere with absorption and metabolism of folic acid, so women who have been on oral contraceptives over long periods may have slight folic acid deficiencies.

• Excessive alcohol intake can also lead to a folic acid deficiency.

Folic Acid used for Prevention of Birth Defects

If you are uncertain whether your diet gives you an adequate amount of folic acid you should take an over-the-counter supplement of 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid or a multivitamin tablet containing the same amount of folic acid. Read the label. To­day, just about any vitamin that calls itself a prenatal supplement has 0.4 mg of folic acid.

For women who have already had a baby with a neural tube defect, the CDC recommends taking 4 mg (4000 micrograms) of folic acid per day from 4 weeks before conception through the first 3 months of pregnancy. If there is a chance that you may have a vitamin B-12 deficiency (pernicious anemia), discuss having a B-12 blood level drawn before you start taking such a high dose of folic acid. A vitamin B-12 deficiency sometimes occurs in strict vegetarians or vegans or after prolonged antibiotic therapy. The folic acid can mask the diagnosis of this condition, which can cause you to have neurologic damage unless treated. A 4 mg dosage of folic acid is available only by prescription. Do not take extra multivitamins to get more folic acid as there is a possibility that vitamins A and D can be harmful to the developing fetus if taken in too high doses.


Tags:, , , , , , ,

Comments

Leave a Reply