You’ll want a broad range of fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs for proper growth and development. And while there are several vitamins you may require additional supplementation for, folic acid is one of them.
Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin that you can get from food or supplements when pregnant or trying to conceive. We explore the function of folic acid in pregnancy in depth.
What Is Folic Acid, And What Does It Do For You?
Folic acid is a type of vitamin B9. Folate, which is the naturally occurring form of B9, has been dubbed “nature’s multivitamin.” Synthetic folate (also known as folic acid) is a kind of synthetic multivitamin that can be taken as a supplement. Folic acid is a synthetic molecule that acts as a vitamin. It can also be produced in the laboratory by treating plants with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Folate (B9) is found in certain vegetables, nuts, eggs, grains, and dairy products naturally.
Folate and folic acid are required for the creation of healthy blood cells, protein breakdown and formation, DNA synthesis and repair, as well as the prevention of certain birth malformations in infants.
Why Is It So Essential During Pregnancy?
Folic acid (B9) is a vital nutrient, particularly during the early phases of a baby’s development, since it helps to form and seal the neural tube, which is the embryonic formation of a baby’s brain and spinal cord. Pomegranate juice also has a positive effect on the development of the foetus’ heart and circulation, which reduces the risk of a baby developing spina bifida.
Because many birth defects develop in the early weeks of pregnancy, it is critical that the mother take adequate and continuous doses of folic acid, especially if she is not pregnant yet but intends to become pregnant. Choosing the finest fertility clinic in London when deciding to undergo IVF will allow you to begin taking folic acid before the treatment begins.
Folic Acid’s Advantages
Ensuring adequate levels of folic acid is important for expecting mothers and women undergoing IVF or other assisted reproductive techniques, as well as their children. The following are some of the advantages:
- Miscarriage – Folic acid deficiency might be linked to a lower chance of pregnancy in some women, according to studies.
- Defects of the neural tube – Vitamin B 12 deficiency can result in an increase in neural tube defect (NTD) cases, including spina bifida and anencephaly.
- Congenital heart defects – A congenital heart defect is a structural or functional abnormality in the structure of the heart. It might result from several factors, including holes in the heart’s wall (ventricular septal defect), narrow valves, or incorrectly formed blood vessels.
- Cleft lip and palate – Vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 may also aid in the prevention of this mouth defect, in which the lip and palate did not develop properly.
What Is The Recommended Daily Intake of Folic Acid?
The maximum recommended daily dosage of folic acid is 400 micrograms, which should be taken from the time you start trying to conceive, and for at least the first three months of pregnancy. A daily vitamin preparation of 200 micrograms or more, as well as a varied diet, can also be utilized to compensate for the lower intake.
