How long before trying to get pregnant is the best time to start taking folic acid?
As people pay more attention to nutrition during pregnancy, the importance of folic acid is gradually recognized by the public. However, many people hold a wait-and-see attitude or don\’t pay attention to the \”Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents\” recommendation to start taking folic acid at least 3 months before preparing for pregnancy. So, how long before trying to get pregnant is the best time to start taking folic acid? This article will explain the answer to you from four aspects.
1. Effect of folic acid on fetal development
Folic acid is a member of the B vitamin family and has important functions. During pregnancy, the main function of folic acid is to promote the development of the fetal neural tube. Lack of folic acid during pregnancy increases the risk of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) in the fetus. In addition, studies have shown that folic acid also has a positive impact on fetal immune system development, intellectual development and other aspects. Therefore, taking folic acid from before pregnancy is essential to ensure the healthy growth of the fetus.
2. The absorption of folic acid takes time
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that can be absorbed and used by the body. However, the absorption of folic acid takes time and cannot be taken in large amounts in a short period of time. If you start supplementing with folic acid just before pregnancy, it is likely that it will be too late to start taking folic acid when the fetal neural tube development has been completed in the early stages of pregnancy. Moreover, women often do not know that they are pregnant before they become pregnant, so starting to take folic acid 3 months in advance can ensure adequate nutrition for the fetus.
3. Prevent the risk of early pregnancy and fetal arrest
In addition to promoting the development of fetal neural tubes, folic acid also has the effect of preventing early pregnancy and fetal arrest. A lack of folic acid can lead to erythrocytosis, which thins the endometrium and affects embryo implantation and development. At the same time, when fetal cell division speed increases, the amount of nutrients required will also increase. If there is a lack of nutrition during pregnancy, it will easily lead to miscarriage in the first trimester. Therefore, it is recommended to start supplementing with folic acid at least 3 months in advance before getting pregnant to prevent miscarriage during pregnancy.
4. Folic acid has less side effects
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that most people will not cause harm to their bodies even if they consume it in excess. Therefore, starting to supplement folic acid 3 months in advance is not only beneficial to the healthy development of the fetus, but also has no negative impact on the health of women themselves.
Summary
Since folic acid intake before preparing for pregnancy plays an important role in ensuring the healthy growth of the fetus, it is recommended that women start supplementing with folic acid at least 3 months before preparing to become pregnant. Not only does this help prevent risks such as neural tube defects, early pregnancy and fetal loss, but folic acid has fewer side effects. Of course, you still need to pay attention to a balanced diet to ensure the body’s intake of various nutrients.
