For women who are expecting a baby, the most important thing is to take care of their health. This includes a lot. Nutrition is the foundation. What, in addition to high-quality products, you also need, you will learn from this article.
Useful for everyone
Many of you have probably heard of folic acid. It is extremely important for our body. It was obtained relatively recently (in 1941) from spinach leaves. And it was synthesized for the first time in 1946.
This acid is a capricious, unstable thing. About half of it disappears if you keep the product in the light for a long time. And if you boil or fry vegetables and herbs that contain folic acid, then it can be destroyed by 90%!
However (second name folic acid) is very necessary for a person, especially since inside the body it is almost not produced by itself. In any case, it is synthesized in such a small amount that it is impossible to cover the daily need with this.
What is the role of folic acid? It is easier to say in which organs it does not participate than to list where this substance is involved.
So, its role in the activity of the hematopoietic organs and intestines, as well as in the work of the liver, is important. Acid perfectly supports the immune system, and also promotes transformations in redox processes and helps the functioning of blood cells (white and red). Be sure to participate in protein biosynthesis, it has a great effect on the brain, its work, and so on.
What if there is a shortage?
Do not be surprised, because our organisms are rather complex physical and chemical apparatuses! And when B9 is not enough in them (and this is almost for everyone!), Then fatigue and insomnia, anxiety and loss of appetite, problems with breathing and memory begin. Add apathy with anemia, various abdominal pains and unpleasant nausea, mouth ulcers and general depression. There is even a graying of hair, as well as their loss. Not to mention dementia and birth defects in newborns.
These are the troubles (and sometimes grief) that small flat yellow pills can free us from, which we should drink regularly, but do not do this, either out of ignorance, or out of carelessness.
But the biggest is observed in women who take hormonal drugs and are addicted to alcohol.
By the way, the drug is sold without a prescription, and it will not ruin you at all. Any pharmacy has folic acid. The price will surprise you: from 27 to 35 rubles (for a package of 1 mg, 50 pieces, from different manufacturers).
Important for everyone
More recently, B9 was considered for some reason to be a ladies' vitamin. But recent scientific evidence suggests that it will not harm the stronger sex, especially when they want to become fathers. And in general, for any of the adults, such pills are a good and simply indispensable tool for strengthening the body.
In what other cases will these tablets be indispensable? is extremely necessary. What is its use? It ensures the correct growth and development of the expected baby. Without this substance, one cannot do without cell division of cells, including blood cells. But the most valuable thing is that folic acid is very necessary for early dates pregnancy. Moreover, many experts advise taking it already when you are just planning to have a baby. So to speak, it is better to start strengthening your body in advance, because with a lack of vitamin B9 there will be a much higher risk of a variety of congenital malformations in the fetus.
Many experiments of scientists have proven that folic acid is a strong barrier that protects against abnormalities in the development of the neural tube in the fetus, which threaten many pathologies, such as prematurity and malnutrition. And the latter is nothing more than a disorder (moreover, chronic) of nutrition and digestion in general in young children. They begin to develop exhaustion, their immunity drops greatly, many vital important features young body.
Therefore, you need to take your pregnancy very seriously! And then the baby will be born strong and healthy.
Grows in the garden
Of course, vitamin B9 can be consumed without going to the pharmacy, because it often grows in our garden. The same spinach is rich in them. Don't forget the seeds soybeans, beans, asparagus, cabbage and even peanuts.
Most of all, they are saturated with yeast, liver, both animals and birds. Herbs are good in this regard: basil, rosemary, parsley and other spices. Include all this in your diet, if not daily, but at least once a week.
True, in order to provide yourself with the necessary norm of a vitamin per day, you will have to absorb literally kilograms of vegetables. Yes, and it can cost a pretty penny today. In pharmacies, there is always folic acid. Its price is low, as mentioned above.
In some countries, by the way, a law has been adopted on the mandatory enrichment of flour products and bread with folic acid.
From the very first days
But, you say, if the products themselves contain natural B9, then why and how much to drink folic acid during pregnancy pharmacy? This must be done because at the time of cooking dinners, part of the vitamin is destroyed. In addition, the set of foods rich in folic acid in our diet is not so great. And even if you have super-full food, it still won’t cover the body’s normal needs for B9. And the availability of this substance natural origin small when compared with those tablets that are sold in pharmacies.
A lot of people drink the drug "Folic acid" during pregnancy. Reviews about him are only positive. It is advisable to take B9 to any expectant mother for prevention purposes (up to 12 weeks inclusive). And some people, according to the results of the tests, are prescribed "shock" doses. The main thing is that all your actions should be directed precisely by doctors, specialists, and not by an acquaintance, girlfriend or even relatives.
What is the dose?
The question of how much to drink folic acid during pregnancy is decided by the gynecologist. Now the daily norm for those women who are expecting a child has been established, and this is 0.4 mg. But there are cases - and there are many of them - when the dose can become much larger. For example, this applies to patients whose children have some defects in their development. Also, for those who are already taking other medications, it is recommended to increase the dosage to 4-5 mg (with daily intake). Further, the drug is prescribed based on the results of studying how the baby is formed.
But at the same time, as scientists have found out, in any case, an overdose of B9 can in no way harm the embryo in its development.
Features of use
So when is the best time to start taking folic acid during pregnancy? How many tablets per day? Women who are serious about the health of their unborn child should take them even before conception, exactly from the moment they want to give birth. Dose per day - 0.4 mg. And then, when pregnancy occurs, you do not need to stop taking it.
Why is it necessary to immediately go to the pharmacy at the first hint of pregnancy? Because you can miss the most active phase of development in the neural tube embryo. And it ends in the sixth week.
Whether or not to use all the sets of vitamins that the doctor strongly recommends, each woman decides for herself. It is, after all, her own business. But, as we know, not all ladies are obedient, and many are simply frivolous and neglect advice. Others believe that the opinion of experienced pregnant women is more important. And the doctors, they say, just need to prescribe more pills.
But deny real facts- means deliberately harming not only yourself personally, but also the unborn baby. And then you will sob that you did not listen to what the gynecologist said.
After all, it is not at all difficult at the first thought that you are a lady in interesting position hurry to the clinic. And there they will already tell you how to take folic acid during pregnancy.
Tocopherol
If a woman finds out that she will have a child, she becomes registered with the doctor. And he immediately prescribes another drug for her. For folic acid and vitamin E during pregnancy are the two most necessary things.
And again, some ladies do not want to follow the recommendations of a specialist. What for? Like, they feel great. And it's really bad to do that.
In general, tocopherol is the second in translation Greek it means the following: "tokos" - birth, and "ferro" - I wear, wear. In other words, the drug contributes to the conception itself, and the bearing of the fetus, and even the birth of a baby. This is his triple invaluable mission.
Please note: it is equally useful for both mothers and their children. It is not enough to know how to take folic acid during pregnancy. Still need this useful supplement. Which we will now prove.
Visible advantages
We present to the doubters a whole list of the positive properties of tocopherol. It prevents the danger of miscarriage, and this is the first. Then, he takes a considerable part in the creation of the baby's respiratory system. It helps the placenta mature in time, preserves flexibility blood vessels, prevents blood clots from forming, supports the work of hormones, and also promotes the production of prolactin (it is he who, after the birth of a child, “supplies” the mother with milk). As you can see, the question is not only how much to drink folic acid during pregnancy.
Even without tocopherol, there would be a threat of leg cramps in a woman who is in position. Also, vitamin E affects how her skin, hair and nails look, both during the period of bearing a baby and after childbirth. Finally, the drug begins to treat the same dysfunction of the female ovaries and more.
One minus
And that's why this important vitamin always recommend in It's interesting. As it turned out, despite the great advantages, you can’t drink tocopherol for a long time. It has such a property as accumulation in tissues (fatty). Over time, an excess of this substance occurs, which leads to a very undesirable phenomenon. The muscles of a woman before childbirth become overly elastic, and this is not at all necessary at such a crucial moment.
It was not proven yesterday that a person should take only 20 mg of tocopherol per day. But pregnancy is a special case! And here the dosage of the vitamin depends on many things: the condition of the ward of the gynecologist, the results of fresh tests. Even the height and weight of the pregnant woman matter. So they usually prescribe this vitamin at 200-400 mg per day.
Rosehip and bran
Even women in position should take into account the following: how the doctor prescribed them tocopherol - alone or together with other microelements.
And the most unexpected thing is that vitamin E is not necessary to drink at all! In some, of course, individual situations and in contrast to the same folic acid. It is quite possible to get it just at the dinner table. Eat more eggs, do not forget the seeds. Do not refuse decoctions of wild rose. Cook yourself buckwheat and oatmeal. Also, a lot of tocopherol is found in bran and wheat sprouts.
Be prudent. Be sure to find out how much folic acid to drink during pregnancy and exactly how much tocopherol you need. Don't stop taking care of yourself and your unborn child. This will allow you to give birth to wonderful babies and experience the true happiness of motherhood.
According to a study published in the American Journal clinical nutrition, women who take folic acid supplements increase their risk of breast cancer by 20-30%. The researchers collected data on the consumption of this substance by women from multivitamins over a 10-year period. In the end, they found that women who took multivitamins containing this element were more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those who did not.
A previously published study found a 163% increased risk of prostate cancer in men taking folic acid supplements. A new meta-analysis of such supplements and risk of colorectal cancer found that those who took it for more than three years increased their risk of colorectal adenoma by 35%. In the United States, Canada, and most recently Chile, the incidence rate colorectal cancer increased after the introduction of mandatory fortification of flour with this element.
Another new study found that folic acid supplementation by pregnant women increased the risk of childhood asthma by 26%, and another study linked folic acid supplementation during pregnancy to an increase in infections respiratory tract in infants, especially those leading to hospitalization.
Last month in Norway, where flour is not fortified with this substance, researchers conducting a six-year study on the homocysteine-lowering effects of vitamins in patients with heart disease made an unexpected conclusion: patients who supplemented with folic acid had a higher risk of cancer and death. From him. These patients were 43% more likely to die from cancer.
Most disturbing were the results of another study comparing women who took it during pregnancy with those who didn't. Thirty years later, women who received a hefty dose of the substance during pregnancy were twice as likely to die from breast cancer. Shocking, right?
If folic acid is so dangerous, why is it included in multivitamins, prenatal vitamins, and fortified grain products? Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a member of the B vitamin family involved in DNA synthesis and DNA methylation, which essentially turns genes on and off. Because of these significant functions, it has great importance in fetal development and the health of nervous tissue, as well as the initiation and progression of cancer. In the past, much attention has been paid to the protective effect of folate against neural tube defects (NTDs).
Unfortunately, this knowledge and public attention has not led to a US government campaign encouraging women to get plenty of natural dietary folate from vegetables. Instead, pregnant women were pushed to take its synthetic replacement. However, it is chemically different from dietary folate, resulting in differences in absorption and processing of the two by cells in the intestinal wall. Some of the folic acid is chemically modified to be closer to natural folate, but the modifying abilities of the intestinal cells are limited. An excess of this element often enters the bloodstream unchanged.
Scientists do not yet know the effects of circulating synthetic folic acid. Many Americans, through the use of multivitamins and fortified foods, take excessive amounts of it and thus may be able to have it unmodified circulating in the blood, which may contribute to cancer-promoting effects.
The recommendation to pregnant women to take folic acid supplements is of particular concern - these women could safely increase their folic acid status and prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) by eating green vegetables, but instead they are instructed to take it, which puts them at risk of breast cancer. later in life.
Children are also at risk - women who take supplements with her as a substitute good food unable to provide their unborn children with additional nutrients in foods containing folate. Maternal nutrition is the most important factor determining child health, and between maternal consumption of vegetables and cancer in children, there is Feedback.
Unlike synthetic substitutes, folate from dietary sources, especially from green vegetables, appears to protect against breast and prostate cancer.
Ironically, in people who do not take such supplements, there is an inverse relationship between dietary folic acid intake and breast and prostate cancer. It is an essential nutrient with life-important functions. It is likely that its levels must be tightly regulated by the body, since its timing and doses are an important factor determining whether it has a positive or negative impact. The effect of this substance on DNA may prevent the onset of cancer, but may also promote the proliferation of tumor cells that may already be present.
Fortunately, getting folic acid exclusively from food ensures that we don't get too much of it. It comes naturally balanced with other micronutrients and the body regulates absorption.
Rich sources of dietary folate
Spinach, raw 843
chicory endive 835
romaine lettuce 800
asparagus, cooked 750
mustard greens, raw 700
kale, raw 550
okra, cooked 520
Chinese cabbage, raw 500
broccoli, raw 375
colza, raw 340
artichokes, cooked 330
Brussels sprouts, cooked 300
broccoli, cooked 300
cauliflower, raw 300
red leaf lettuce 225
celery, raw 225
edamame 225
tomatoes, yellow 200
tomatoes, orange 180
chickpeas 150
red pepper, raw 150
peas, raw 100
common pumpkin 100
papaya 90
tomatoes, red 85
strawberry 75
oranges 70
blueberries 55
beets, cooked 50
avocado 50
sunflower seeds 40
quinoa, cooked 35
Obviously, we don't need synthetic supplements to meet our daily folate requirement.
For 2 months in 1961, hematologist Victor Herbert ate only boiled chicken and apple juice. He claimed that a deficiency of a vitamin called folate causes anemia, and he was right. His health deteriorated to such an extent that he was bedridden by malaise, and it was only after he began to eat vegetables that he recovered.
Thanks in part to Herbert's experiment, as well as other studies, scientists now know perfectly well that everyone needs vitamin B9, but pregnant women especially need it. Folate is found in fruits, dried beans, peas, and green vegetables such as spinach. The word "folate" comes from the Latin word "foliage", which means "leafy".
A form of molecular utility, folate is involved in the formation of red blood cells and also interacts with other vitamins to help the body use dietary protein. DNA cannot replicate without folate, so this vitamin is especially needed for fetal development. A lack of folate in a woman's body before and during pregnancy can cause abnormal development of the embryo.
To prevent such problems, many countries have laws that allow women to get free folic acid. This ingredient is often found in breakfast cereals, egg noodles, rice, bread, and other foods. These measures have significantly reduced the risk of developing neural tube defects in newborns.
Scientists believe folate supplements may help combat various diseases including Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and cancer. However, too high doses of folate can trigger the development of cancer. Recently, a group of researchers proved that the body cannot transform synthetic folic acid into biologically useful molecules as efficiently as previously thought.
Folic acid, or synthetic folate, is used in fortified cereal products because it has a longer shelf life than regular folate.
Vitamin B9 is commonly known as folate or folic acid and belongs to the B group of vitamins. If folates occur naturally herbal products such as found in green leafy vegetables, peas, seeds, etc., folic acid is a synthetic form of folate found primarily in fortified foods such as morning cereals and food additives. In this text, we will call them by the common name folic acid.
Folic acid is needed by the body:
For offspring, normal development fetus and ensure the health of unborn children,
- for protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism,
- for normal functioning nervous system,
- for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, which is important for the process of growth and reproduction of body cells,
- for the formation of red and white blood cells,
- for the proper functioning of the brain, which is important in terms of mental and emotional health,
- to reduce cholesterol in the blood and improve the efficiency of the liver.
During pregnancy and lactation, the need for folic acid increases to 500 mcg per day. If a pregnant woman does not get enough folic acid, then the fetus may develop palatal deformities, hernia, brain damage, babies may be born prematurely or have a low birth weight, the child's development may be slow and learning ability is less. Since many pregnancies, especially in adolescence are not planned, every woman in reproductive age 400 micrograms of folic acid per day should be taken with food, because the foundations of the child's nervous system are laid already in the first weeks of fetal life, when a woman may not yet know about her pregnancy.
The best sources of folate are the green parts of plants, legumes such as lentils, peas and beans.
60 g wheat germ,
- 75 g of beans,
- 150 g wheat bran,
- 265 g fresh asparagus cabbage,
- 350 g fresh cauliflower,
- 840 g strawberries.
Folic acid deficiency is experienced by 20% of the population, and according to some data, its deficiency occurs in all people at certain periods of life. At the same time, they often do not even know about the presence of this problem, and have no idea what folic acid deficiency is fraught with for them. Folic acid or more familiar to us Vitamin B9 (one and the same) is one of the most essential vitamins for the human body. Moreover, folic acid is a vital element, and folic acid during pregnancy is a vital vitamin for two at once. But, unfortunately, most often it is not enough. This is especially true for pregnant women and children.
____________________________
· folic acid deficiency
Folic acid deficiency can go unnoticed. However, over time, a personby "incomprehensible"chinam loses his appetite, quickly gets tired, becomes irritable, then diarrhea and vomiting begin. The final stage of symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency is the appearance of sores in the mouth and hair loss, while all organs and systems of the body suffer. The formation of blood erythrocytes, metabolic processes, the work of the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems, activity gastrointestinal tract- Vitamin B9 is involved in all these processes. Severe folic acid deficiency inevitably ends in the development of megaloblastic anemia, which can lead to death.
· Why is folic acid needed during pregnancy?
At normal condition intestinal microflora Every body can produce some amount of folic acid. So why do pregnant women need folic acid, why are folic acid tablets prescribed, in this case? The fact is that folic acid deficiency during pregnancy is very dangerous, and its excess is almost impossible. The amount that the body produces does not cover the needs of even a person in his normal state. Therefore, we all need to ensure its entry into the body along with food products and vitamin complexes.
significantly increases, in fact, as the importance of vitamin B9. Why folic acid during pregnancy? First of all, it takes an active part in the formation of the placenta, and, therefore, its deficiency can cause placental insufficiency and premature termination of pregnancy. Folic acid, together with vitamin B12, is needed for cell division, and this is especially important for actively dividing tissues - in other words, during the period of embryo formation and fetal growth. Folic acid is needed for pregnant women and for hematopoiesis in the future baby and his mother - she is involved in the formation of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets. Vitamin B9 is essential for the formation nucleic acids(DNA and RNA), which are involved in the transmission of hereditary traits.
Answering the question why pregnant women need folic acid, one cannot fail to say about its most important role in the formation of the neural tube of the fetus. A lack of vitamin B9 during pregnancy is fraught with very severe malformations in the fetus. With its insufficiency, the risks for the child during the period prenatal development(especially in the early stages) are very large:
- hydrocephalus;
- anencephaly (absence of the brain in the fetus);
- cerebral hernia;
- defects spinal column;
- delay in physical and mental development;
- congenital deformities;
- premature termination of pregnancy;
- stillbirth of a child.
Vitamin B9 deficiency during pregnancy affects the pregnant woman herself. Its lack is the cause of toxicosis, depression of pregnant women, pain in the legs and arms. Severe folic acid deficiency in a pregnant woman inevitably results in the development of megaloblastic anemia, which can be fatal for the woman and child. However, the latter is extremely rare now, since a pregnant woman undergoes a series of tests to prevent this, and folic acid tablets are prescribed during pregnancy almost “indiscriminately”.
· Should everyone take folic acid tablets during pregnancy?
Are you still wondering why folic acid during pregnancy, take pills prescribed by a doctor or not? Of course, you have the right to be indignant and argue that you didn’t even know about it before, and gave birth normally, normal healthy children, and healthier modern generation So why stuff yourself with too much? But it is unlikely that you will find something to object to the fact that the products, and the environment, and the way of life used to be different, more acceptable, more healthy. Avitaminosis today is like a runny nose, and it is observed in most pregnant women, and first of all, it is a deficiency of vitamin B9.
Of course, all these medical "horror stories" will not necessarily happen to you if you do not take folic acid tablets during pregnancy. But the lack of B9 is very threatening, and the overabundance is doubtful. Folic acid during pregnancy is quickly consumed, and the excess is excreted from the body. Vitamin B9 does not have a cumulative property, in other words, the need for it constantly exists, and it can only be provided with “supplies from outside”. daily need folic acid for a person - 200 mcg, when planning a conception - its intake must be doubled. And it increases by 4 times.
· When do pregnant women need folic acid?
Folic acid is absolutely necessary for every pregnant woman. This is the only vitamin during pregnancy, the importance of which and the need for it additional reception even the brightest opponents of artificial vitamins do not dispute.
The main difficulty lies in the fact that the most important processes that occur with the participation of vitamin B9 during the laying of organs, the formation of the fetus, mental and physical health unborn child, occur precisely in the very early stages of a developing pregnancy. The woman at this time does not even know that she is pregnant. Neural tube of the fetus (which is future brain, and the entire nervous system of the body) begins to form already on the 16th day after conception. And for this process it is especially important. The most important thing is that it enters the body future mother in the very first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, the ideal option is to start taking folic acid even when planning conception, or rather 3 months before.
But even if you didn’t manage to prepare properly, and you found out about pregnancy later than you would like, it’s not too late to take folic acid and you need to. The neural tube of the fetus undergoes a lot of changes throughout the first trimester. And as a rule, it is recommended to take B9 for the first 3 months.
· What better products or pills during pregnancy?
The name folic came from the Latin "folium", which means "leaf". Actually, the source of this acid speaks for itself. The largest number Vitamin B9 can be found in green leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, parsley, asparagus, onions, Brussels sprouts, broccoli. It is found in large quantities in wholemeal flour. Enough folic acid in green peas, citrus fruits and juices, avocados, apricots, melon, pumpkin, beans, yeast. This is why vegetarians are generally not deficient in folic acid. However, if you eat a little plant food (diet features, winter period) - you definitely need to take an additional vitamin. Of animal sources, the richest source is the liver. Much less, but there is it in meat, fish, cheeses.
If the health of the pregnant woman is in order, and there is no need to take higher doses, then for normal course pregnancy and the development of the baby, the amount that contains vitamin complexes for pregnant. With the additional appointment of the drug, it is necessary to take into account the content of folic acid in vitamins and adjust the dosage.
Undoubtedly natural source vitamin is much better than folic acid tablets during pregnancy - better absorbed, natural. But given the quality of modern products, it is difficult to predict the sufficiency of its intake into the body. Therefore, if the doctor prescribes additional pills - drink without hesitation!
Yana Lagidna, especially for the site
And a little more about folic acid during pregnancy, video:
Folic acid is one of the first drugs that is prescribed to all women who find out about their pregnancy. Sometimes gynecologists advise taking folic acid even at the stage of pregnancy planning.
In this article, we will analyze the need for prescribing folic acid to pregnant women, the timing of the appointment, the permissible doses of the drug and the duration of the intake.
Why is folic acid so important for pregnant women?
Folic acid belongs to the B vitamins. It water soluble vitamin AT 9 . V human body it is able to be synthesized by the microflora of the large intestine.
But it is synthesized in the intestine in a small amount. This amount is not enough to cover daily requirement in him.
Where to get the missing amount of folic acid? From food. But even with a variety of proper nutrition a person often misses daily allowance folic acid.
During heat treatment of the product or as a result of long exposure sunlight vitamin B 9 is destroyed on it.
Therefore, during pregnancy, a deficiency of folic acid inevitably occurs in a woman's body. In this regard, even ardent opponents of taking medications during pregnancy do not neglect the intake of folic acid.
It is especially important to fill this deficit in the early stages - during the period of active growth of the fetus, the laying of all its organs and systems. It is in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy that folic acid should enter the body of a woman in large quantities.
Vitamin B 9 is involved in the process of cell division. Without normal process cell division organogenesis (laying of organs and body systems) is impossible.
Also, folic acid is necessary for hematopoiesis, the formation of blood cells (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes). And this is also very important not only for the fetus, but also for the mother's body. After all, anemia during pregnancy is a fairly common problem.
Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to fetal malformations (vertebral column defects, developmental anomalies maxillofacial region child and others).
The role of folic acid in the laying and formation of the neural tube, the rudiment of the future fetal nervous system, is very important.
Therefore, among the pathologies of fetal development in conditions of folic acid deficiency, malformations of the nervous system are possible. For instance, various violations development of the brain can lead to fetal death, stillbirth or the birth of a sick child.
Folic acid plays an important role in the synthesis of amino acids and nucleotides.
The proteins of the child's body are built from amino acids.
DNA is built from nucleotides - the carrier of the genetic information of the body. Therefore, when normal concentration folic acid structure of DNA molecules is formed without damage and mutations.
If folic acid is not enough in the body of a pregnant woman, then over time, a toxic substance, homocysteine, begins to accumulate. It can damage the walls of blood vessels, which during pregnancy can lead to sad consequences.
Damage to the vascular wall is fraught with premature detachment of the placenta, which can lead to premature birth.
Also elevated level homocysteine may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin B 9 takes part in the formation of the placenta and its vessels. Therefore, its lack can lead to uteroplacental insufficiency.
With a deficiency of folic acid, the mother's body also suffers. Vitamin deficiency provokes the development of anemia, toxicosis, depression.
Why is folic acid needed at the stage of pregnancy planning?
Folic acid affects the structure of cell division, especially the cells of the fetal nervous system. The neural tube of the baby begins to form on the 16th day after conception. This is the period when most mothers do not yet know about conception.
Therefore, in many countries of the world, gynecologists recommend that women take folic acid in advance, that is, at the stage of pregnancy planning.
It is considered optimal if the expectant mother takes folic acid for at least 3 months before conception.
If a woman did not take folic acid before pregnancy, and found out about her position, for example, at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, you still need to start taking folic acid. Since during the entire first trimester, the fetal neural tube undergoes further differentiation.
The prophylactic dose of folic acid at the stage of pregnancy planning and during the first trimester is 400 mcg per day. Otherwise, 0.4 mg.
Only a special group of expectant mothers (women at risk) are prescribed large doses of folic acid - 800-1000 mcg per day.
The risk group for the birth of a child with congenital anomalies includes women who:
- there was a history of pregnancy that ended in the birth of a child with a pathology of the nervous system or other malformations, fetal death;
- there are cases of hereditary diseases in the family (even among family members of a distant degree of kinship);
- there is serious illnesses– diabetes mellitus, megaloblastic anemia, epilepsy, metabolic diseases, peptic ulcer, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases pronounced toxicosis.
With the above diseases, the processes of absorption and breakdown of folic acid are disrupted.
As well as medications used in such diseases anticonvulsants, antacids, cytostatics, etc.), impair the absorption of folic acid.
A doctor observing a pregnant woman at risk can adjust the dose of folic acid himself, based on the results of the examination. In some cases, it may be necessary to increase the dose to 2-3 mg of folic acid per day.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that most folic acid preparations contain 1 mg of the substance in one tablet. Therefore, if you are not at risk, the pill will have to be divided. Or you need to find a drug that would contain a dose that is right for you.
Tablets should be taken orally after meals. It is also acceptable to take folic acid with meals if a woman feels nauseous after taking a tablet after eating.
How not to overdose the drug?
Many women are afraid of high doses of the drug and believe that when taking 1000 micrograms (1 mg) of folic acid, an overdose can occur.
In fact, there is no reason to worry. It is difficult to overdose on folic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin, the excess of which is easily excreted by the body.
However, you shouldn't get carried away. Long-term use of high doses of the drug can lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, the appearance metallic taste in the mouth, sleep disturbance, irritability, anemia (as it leads to vitamin B12 deficiency).
To date, there are two opinions among doctors about the duration of folic acid intake during pregnancy.
Some believe that taking it is enough for the first three months. And in the future, a pregnant woman is recommended to take vitamin complexes containing folic acid and eat well.
Others recommend taking folic acid throughout pregnancy and continuing during pregnancy. breastfeeding. This is explained by the fact that throughout pregnancy and lactation, the need for folic acid increases.
At the same time, a vitamin deficiency in the mother’s body that is not eliminated in time will lead to its deficiency in the baby’s body, since in breast milk vitamin B 9 will also not be enough.
What should you do? Trust your doctor and his opinion. Don't trust the doctor? Change it to one you can trust.
Folic acid gets its name from the Latin word folium, meaning leaf. Because folic acid was first obtained from leafy greens.
The main sources of folic acid are green plants. These are spinach, wild garlic, parsley, lettuce, beans, lentils, beans, leeks, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green pea, avocado.
A significant amount of vitamin B 9 is found in whole wheat flour(with bran), cereals with unpeeled grain shells, yeast.
Folic acid is present in the liver, meat, fish, hard cheese, but the heat treatment of such products reduces its amount by several times.
Vegetables and herbs are best eaten raw or steamed to preserve folic acid in them as much as possible.
If you infrequently use the above products, then, of course, you should use additional folic acid tablets or take vitamin-mineral complexes.
Drinking large amounts of tea negatively affects the absorption of folic acid. Moreover, tea accelerates its excretion from the body.
On the pharmaceutical market There are monopreparations containing only folic acid, and preparations with a combined composition.
Conventional folic acid tablets (single product) are available in dosages of 400 mcg, 500 mcg, 1000 mcg (depending on the manufacturer of the drug). Most often this is a dosage of 1000 mcg.
Foliber is a preparation containing folic acid (400 mcg) and vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin - 2 mcg). It is prescribed for the prevention of heart disease, anemia. May be given to pregnant women in the first trimester or those planning a pregnancy.
The drug should be used with caution in patients with impaired absorption of glucose or galactose, galactosemia or lactase deficiency, since the drug contains 23 mg of lactose per 1 tablet. One tablet is taken 1 time per day.
Folio. The composition of the drug includes 400 micrograms of folic acid and 200 micrograms of iodine. This medicine contains two important element for a pregnant woman in a prophylactic dose.
Folio according to the instructions should be taken once a day, preferably during a meal, one tablet. For diseases thyroid gland before taking the drug, you need to adjust the dose of the drugs already used (due to the iodine contained in the tablets).
Doppelgerz active Folic acid is a vitamin complex. Contains folic acid - 600 mcg, vitamin C - 300 mg, B 6 - 6 mcg, B 12 - 5 mcg, E - 36 mg.
A drug is prescribed for the prevention of heart disease, disorders cerebral circulation, at gynecological diseases. Suitable for the prevention of hypovitaminosis during pregnancy and lactation. It is prescribed 1 tablet once a day during a meal.
Folic acid with B 6 and B 12 (Evalar). The preparation contains: folic acid - 600 mcg, vitamin B 12 - 5 mcg, vitamin B 6 - 6 mg. It's biologically active additive to food.
Indications for use are the same as for the above drugs. The recommended course of treatment is 4-6 weeks. Take 1 tablet once daily, preferably with the first meal of the day.
Multivitamin complexes such as Elevit Pronatal, Materna, Vitrum prenatal, etc. often prescribed to pregnant women with iron deficiency, deficiency of folic acid and other vitamins during childbearing and breastfeeding.
Important: Do not long time take calcium-containing vitamin complexes for women with excess calcium in the blood.
Folic acid "9 months" and Mamifol contain 400 micrograms of folic acid. They are prescribed to prevent folic acid deficiency in women of childbearing age at the stages of pregnancy planning (1-3 months in advance) and to prevent the development of neural tube defects in the fetus. Taken 1 tablet per day.
Folacin or Apofilic is used to treat established folic acid deficiency. The preparations contain 5 mg of folic acid per tablet.
There are also iron preparations that additionally contain folic acid. These are Maltofer, Hemoferon, Fenyuls Zinc.
These drugs are mainly used for iron deficiency, folate deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. For the prevention of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy, they are not entirely suitable, since they contain a dose of folic acid below the prophylactic dose - 300 mcg.
Folic acid preparations are sold without a prescription and always remain affordable. However, a woman should not make her own decisions regarding the intake and dosage of folic acid during pregnancy.
Always check with your doctor about the required dosage, duration of administration, conditions for taking the drug and the compatibility of the drug with other medications you take. Including vitamins.
Vitamins are medicines too chemical substances, which, if mishandled, can, in combination with other substances in your body, give such chemical reaction, which will bring irreparable harm to your body and the body of your child.
Be prudent and careful when using medications. Health to you and your children!
Folic acid during pregnancy is necessary for both the expectant mother and the baby. And only she is assigned to every non-idle woman. All about the benefits of folic acid during pregnancy and at the planning stage - in this article.
Hello everyone, dear subscribers and readers of my blog. Svetlana Morozova is with you. Today I will tell you about the main, perhaps, vitamin for expectant mothers - folic acid. You will find out why women need it, how it affects the fetus and the body of the pregnant woman herself, what products it contains, and others. useful facts. Go!
Friends! I, Svetlana Morozova, invite you to mega useful and interesting webinars! Host, Andrey Eroshkin. Health Recovery Expert, Certified Dietitian.
Topics for upcoming webinars:
- How to lose weight without willpower and so that the weight does not return again?
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Folic acid during pregnancy: benefits for the baby
(aka vitamin B9) is needed for the work of many structures in the body: the formation of DNA in new cells, hematopoiesis, the synthesis of amino acids and hormones, the immune response, proper digestion, and the prevention of cancer. In the body, it is produced in an extremely small amount in the intestines, so we must consume vitamin B9 daily with food.
With the onset of pregnancy, folic acid becomes necessary more than 1.5 times. Already in the early stages, when the fact of pregnancy may not yet be established, this vitamin is actively included in the construction of vital important organs and fetal systems. Therefore, even when planning, both spouses are recommended to take vitamin B9.
What effect does folic acid have on the fetus?
- Participates in the formation of the placenta and its blood supply;
- Stimulates the formation of healthy nervous tissue, brain, spine, digestive and urinary organs of the crumbs;
- Protects the fetus from external teratogenic (causing deformity) factors;
- Prevents chromosomal abnormalities and developmental delay.
Until what time is the lack of folic acid most critical: the peak of importance is up to 12 weeks, then up to 16. But it is advisable to take it throughout pregnancy and after, during breastfeeding.
The intake of vitamin B9 in full greatly reduces the risk of such fetal defects as:
- Hydrocephalus;
- Anencephaly (underdeveloped brain);
- Spina bifida (protrusion spinal cord from the spine)
- intrauterine hypoxia;
- Pathology of the spine, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract;
- malformations of the fetus;
- Congenital hernia of the brain;
- intrauterine growth retardation;
- Frozen pregnancy (fetal death).
The influence of folic acid is felt not only by the baby, but also by the expectant mother herself. More on this later.
The value of folic acid for the health of a pregnant woman
Folic acid is one such vitamin that is sure to be prescribed to all pregnant women. About indispensability for intrauterine development healthy baby I told above, but what B9 is needed for the body of the most pregnant woman:
- Controls, prepares the body for the onset of pregnancy, and then helps to avoid miscarriage, missed pregnancy;
- Protects a pregnant woman from anemia;
- Prevents or significantly alleviates the symptoms of toxicosis;
- Maintains normal emotional condition expectant mother, protects against anxiety, depression, aggressiveness, tearfulness,;
- Provides good nutrition brain, which helps to maintain efficiency and clarity of mind, to avoid bad memory, distraction, lethargy and drowsiness.
- Preserves the beauty of a pregnant woman: maintains the tone and elasticity of the skin and muscles, serves to protect hair from brittleness, loss and loss of color, prevents muscle pain and spasms (for this they like to take B9 in bodybuilding), helps to avoid stretch marks (stretch marks), and after childbirth it is necessary for fast weight loss and return to form;
- Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reduces the load on the heart, helps to avoid varicose veins veins, thrombosis, pain in the legs and spasms of the calf muscles;
- Participates in maintaining normal digestion of a pregnant woman, prevents constipation and nutrient absorption disorders;
- Helps to avoid edema and kidney failure;
- Provides a strong
If at normal times the need for vitamin B9 is about 200-400 mcg per day, then in pregnant women this figure increases to 600 mcg.
folic acid in food
The meaning of the name of the vitamin lies in the Latin "folium" - "leaf". And for good reason: the main source of folic acid is leafy vegetables and greens. There are also many folates in animal foods.
So, here is a list of products with B9:
- Vegetable:
- Vegetables: cabbage (all kinds), spinach, celery, lettuce, parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, turnip, pumpkin, carrot, corn;
- Fruits: bananas, kiwi, avocado, melon, pomegranate, apricots;
- Nuts, seeds;
- Cereals, especially buckwheat;
- beans;
- Yeast;
- Rye and buckwheat flour;
- Cereals, bran, whole grain bread;
- Mushrooms;
- Animals:
- Beef and pork meat;
- Offal, especially liver;
- Fish: salmon, cod, caviar, cod liver;
- Eggs;
- Milk and (cheese, cottage cheese, kefir).
Vitamin B9 is absorbed from food much better than from vitamin-mineral complexes. However, food sources of folic acid are very capricious and do not always convey the vitamin to us in full. Yes, with heat treatment 50-90% of folates are destroyed in food, and when stored for more than 1 day (even in the refrigerator), foods lose about 70% of the vitamin. Or strong tea, drunk shortly after a meal, reduces the absorption of the vitamin and accelerates its excretion.
Therefore, all women who are expecting a baby are shown to drink preparations with folic acid.
What you need to know about taking folic acid
The standard dosage for expectant mothers is 400-500 mcg per day. How many tablets it is depends on the form of release and the composition of the complex. The price also depends on this - from 30 to 1000 rubles.
Can appoint complex preparations, for example, Foliber, or folic acid separately. What is better and how to take - the doctor decides.
At diabetes, epilepsy, or if a woman has already had children with malformations, the dosage may be increased. But only after complete examination and under close medical supervision.
An overdose happens when for a long time take higher doses of the vitamin.
What may be the subsequent manifestations of child:
- Diabetes;
- Obesity;
- Asthma;
- Allergy;
- Disorders of the immune response.
And how might this affect mothers:
- mental disorder;
- Violation of social functions;
- Increased risk of breast cancer.
What can be the side effects of this:
- Redness and rashes on the skin;
- Itching of the skin and mucous membranes;
- Bronchial spasms and cough;
- Appearance spider veins throughout the body;
- Fever.
With these signs, the drug is canceled - urgently see a doctor!
Perhaps that's what I told you all about the role folic acid plays during pregnancy.
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