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Folic acid (vitamin B9) is the most “favorite” drug of obstetricians and gynecologists. It is prescribed to all pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant. But is it really necessary?
Folic acid is normally produced by the intestinal microflora. This vitamin is present in all vegetables and fruits, leafy greens, nuts, wholemeal flour, yeast, liver, eggs are rich in it. Despite the wide distribution of folic acid in nature, its deficiency is one of the most common hypovitaminosis. According to various studies, from 20 to 100% of the population is deficient in folic acid. This percentage is especially high among pregnant women and children.
We are used to not noticing the lack of folic acid in the body and we attribute its symptoms to manifestations of other conditions or diseases. Deficiency of vitamin B9 often causes general weakness, rapid fatigue, inability to concentrate, headaches, dizziness, fainting. A severe form of anemia develops. Blood vessels are affected, thrombosis occurs, and atherosclerosis progresses. Also, common manifestations of folic acid deficiency are digestive disorders and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity. Early gray hair and hair loss are possible.
During pregnancy, the need for folic acid increases significantly. This vitamin is necessary for the formation of the placenta, therefore its deficiency can cause placental insufficiency and cause premature termination of pregnancy. Together with vitamin B12, folic acid is necessary for building cells, which is especially important for tissues that are actively dividing during the formation and growth of the embryo. It participates in hematopoiesis (in the formation of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets) and is necessary for the formation of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) involved in the transmission of hereditary traits. Therefore, now, at the stage of planning pregnancy, folic acid preparations are recommended to be taken not only by expectant mothers, but also by dads. Folic acid in this case is necessary for the production of healthy, motile sperm.
Folic acid plays a very important role in the laying of the fetal neural tube. Deficiency of vitamin B9 is fraught with the development of very serious defects, such as: hydrocephalus, anencephaly (absence of the brain), cerebral hernias, delayed mental and physical development, congenital deformities (cleft lip, cleft palate), defects of the spinal column, premature termination of pregnancy, birth of the dead child. The risks of their development with folic acid deficiency, especially in the early stages, are very high.
And the expectant mother herself may suffer from a lack of folic acid. Deficiency of vitamin B9 causes toxicosis, depression, leg pain, anemia. Therefore, folic acid during pregnancy is extremely necessary, and you need to start taking it as early as possible.
Is it possible to provide the required amount of folic acid with a proper balanced diet during pregnancy?
Despite the fact that now it is possible to eat fresh vegetables and fruits all year round, they, unfortunately, do not provide the required amount of vitamins. In ready-made dishes, the lack of folic acid is due to the fact that it is easily destroyed during heat treatment during cooking. Therefore, in addition to foods rich in folic acid, a pregnant woman must take medications containing this vitamin without fail. But in this case, there are nuances – not all forms of folate can be absorbed by the human body. Folic acid metabolism is quite complex, it requires the presence of vitamins B6, B12, ascorbic acid, so taking monopreparations of folic acid is ineffective.
But how much folic acid is needed to meet the needs of the mother and the growing body of the unborn baby?
An adult needs 200 mcg of folic acid per day for normal functioning. But during pregnancy, the need for it doubles – up to 400 mcg, and in some cases it can be increased to 5 mg. Many women are embarrassed by such high, in their opinion, numbers. But there is no cause for concern. An overdose of folic acid occurs only when doses are taken that are hundreds of times higher than the maximum allowable – this is approximately 25-30 mg per day. In other cases, excess folic acid is simply removed from the body without any consequences.
A large dose of vitamin B9 is required when a pregnant woman is deficient in folic acid, as well as for certain health problems and a predisposition to their occurrence. For example, if there are factors that increase the intake of folic acid or accelerate its excretion (taking certain medications, hereditary deficiency of the folate cycle genes), if there is a high risk of developing neural tube defects (in women with epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia), if any any malformations in relatives, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting of pregnant women. In the presence of at least one of the listed circumstances, the dose of folic acid should be increased.
In cases in which it is necessary to take therapeutic doses of folic acid, now doctors often prescribe the domestic drug ANGIOVIT®. It contains a complex of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid in specially selected dosages necessary for the treatment of conditions caused by a deficiency of these substances.
Pregnant women should remember that the dosage of folic acid and the duration of its intake should be prescribed by the doctor individually for you, and in no case should you change it if your friend was prescribed more or less.
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