A must-read for pregnant women, why you should take folic acid supplements

Dec 18, 2024Ehotyshamull Joy

folic acid is used in women, children,

Essential for teenagers

Folic acid is an indispensable nutrient for women of childbearing age and breastfeeding mothers. This is why from the moment the fetus is fertilized to the time the baby is breastfed, folic acid is heavily involved in DNA synthesis. The same is true for growing infants, children, and adolescents.

In fact, a lack of folic acid in pregnant women causes premature miscarriage, congenital malformations, anencephaly, spina bifida, neural tube defects, cleft palate, cleft palate, cardiac malformations, and Down syndrome. Therefore, it is recommended that women of childbearing age, pregnant and nursing mothers, take folic acid supplements as well as folic acid intake through food. Even in adults, a lack of folic acid in the body increases the risk of gastrointestinal disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

I Folic acid from food sources

Only 50% is absorbed by the body

Folate is a compound composed of pteridine, para-aminobenzoic acid, and glutamate. Folic acid supplements or synthetic folic acid are recommended because the body converts folic acid from foods into polyglutamate. Polyglutamate is used as a coenzyme necessary for protein activity. This is why only 50% of the folic acid consumed from food is absorbed by the body.

Therefore, most countries, including the U.S. FDA, recommend the consumption of folic acid as a synthetic nutrient. The recommended amount of folic acid for pregnant women is 620~1,000μg per day, which can be divided into foods and supplements.

Professor Han Jeong-yeol, Department of Perinatology, Cheil Medical Center, said, "10~20% of pregnant women in Korea have a gene (TT, MTHFR C677T modified gene) that interferes with folic acid absorption" and added, "It is difficult for pregnant women to maintain enough folic acid to prevent malformations through food intake alone, so it is advisable to take synthetic folic acid with a high absorption rate."

I Folic Acid Primary Feeder,

The cooking process should be minimized

Folate (vitamin B9), a water-soluble vitamin, is found in green vegetables, dairy products, and nuts. The main sources of food are seaweed (837μg/100g), black beans (288μg/100g), spinach (211μg/100g), mugwort (190μg/100g), strawberries (127μg/100g), sesame leaves (117μg/100g), eggs (99μg/100g), lettuce (94μg/100g), melons (64μg/100g), cabbage kimchi (52μg/100g), tangerines (38μg/100g), and orange juice (35μg/100g).

Folic acid is absorbed by the mucosal cells of the small intestine and synthesizes amino acids and DNA nucleic acids through metabolic processes. It also has the effect of relaxing blood vessels, and when taken with vitamins B6 and 12, it reduces homocysteine, which causes arteriosclerosis. This is why a lack of folic acid leads to cardiovascular disease.

However, only half of the folic acid consumed from food is absorbed by the body. In addition, more than 29% is lost on average in the cooking process, which involves washing and heating food. Therefore, pregnant women should definitely take folic acid supplements, and even if they eat them as food, it is beneficial to eat them as raw fruits and vegetables.

In particular, women who have given birth to a baby with neural tube defects, pregnant women with diabetes, pregnant women taking anticonvulsants, and women who have frequently smoked and drank alcohol should take folic acid (supplement) at a dose of 4~5mg per day in the early stages of pregnancy, and from the 12th week of pregnancy, they should follow the recommended amount (400~1,000μg) for pregnant women. This is because overdoses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen reduce the nutritional status of folic acid, and alcohol reduces the activity of folate conjugase, which is necessary for the absorption of folic acid.

If you're taking a pregnant woman's vitamin supplement, it's a good idea to make sure it contains the recommended amount of folic acid before deciding to take more.