Folic acid is one of the B vitamins and plays an important role in human health, especially for the health of pregnant mothers and fetuses.
1. Why should pregnant mothers supplement folic acid?
Because my country is one of the countries with a high incidence of birth defects in the world, about 4% to 6% of the approximately 30 million newborns born every year suffer from birth defects. Neural tube defects rank among the top three birth defects. Current medical science has proven that the main cause of neural tube defects is the lack of folic acid in the body. my country is an area with a high incidence of \”fetal neural tube malformations\”, and its cause is closely related to folic acid deficiency. Folic acid deficiency is relatively common among pregnant mothers in my country, and dietary habits are one of the important reasons. Folic acid levels in women of childbearing age are generally low in my country, with the deficiency rate higher in the north than in the south and in rural areas than in cities.
2. Do expectant fathers also need to supplement folic acid before pregnancy?
New research proves that folic acid supplementation is also important for men planning to become fathers. Insufficient folic acid can weaken sperm motility, making it difficult to conceive. On the other hand, it will affect the quality of fertilized eggs and increase the chance of chromosomal defects. Therefore, expectant fathers can supplement folic acid tablets as needed. At the same time, you should pay more attention to the intake of folic acid from your diet, and eat more foods rich in folic acid such as seasonal vegetables, fruits, animal livers, and grains. 
3. If I am in the stage of pregnancy preparation and have been taking folic acid supplements for 3 months, but I am not pregnant yet, do I still need to continue taking supplements?
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins, also known as vitamin B9, and is a water-soluble vitamin. The body needs it to make red blood cells. Folic acid can assist in the synthesis of DNA and maintain normal brain function. Folic acid is also an important component of spinal fluid. Therefore, folic acid is a nutrient that everyone needs. Under normal diet, pregnant women can maintain folic acid levels in the body by taking a \”small-dose folic acid supplement\” containing 400 micrograms of folic acid per tablet every day. Even if you do not get pregnant as expected after taking folic acid for 3 months, you can continue to supplement until you become pregnant.
4. What is the difference between maternal folic acid and ordinary folic acid?
There are basically two types of folic acid tablets on the market: regular type and pregnancy type. The ordinary type mainly targets anemia symptoms of ordinary people. Each tablet contains 5 mg of folic acid (ie 5000 micrograms), which is 12.5 times the normal dosage of folic acid. Doctors recommend that ordinary pregnant mothers take low-dose folic acid tablets (400 micrograms) in early pregnancy, so be careful.Buy blindly to avoid adverse effects on yourself and your baby.
5. Which is better, multivitamin tablets for pregnant women or folic acid tablets that specifically supplement folic acid?
The folic acid content in multivitamin tablets for pregnant women is generally above 400 micrograms. If you are already taking multivitamins, you generally do not need to supplement with folic acid. If you only need a normal dose of folic acid, you can buy regular folic acid tablets or a pregnancy multivitamin tablet that contains folic acid. Some pregnant mothers also choose iron tablets and folic acid tablets. The main ingredients of iron folic acid tablets are iron and folic acid (my country\’s iron folic acid tablets contain about 10 mg of iron and about 133 micrograms of folic acid). Its main function is to prevent and treat anemia, so people who are prone to anemia can take it. Moderate amounts of iron will not affect folic acid absorption. However, this folic acid tablet cannot replace multivitamin tablets, because multivitamin tablets contain many other vitamins and minerals in addition to folic acid and iron.
The following are some benefits of folic acid supplementation:
1. Prevention of neural tube defects: Folic acid is essential for the normal development of the fetal neural tube. Supplementing folic acid can significantly reduce neural tube defects (such as anencephaly and spina bifida). ) incidence rate.
2. Promote healthy fetal development: Folic acid is involved in cell division and growth and is very important for the normal growth and development of the fetus.
3. Prevention of congenital heart disease: Some studies have shown that folic acid supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of congenital heart disease.
4. Improve cardiovascular health: Folic acid helps reduce homocysteine levels in the blood. Excessive homocysteine levels are thought to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Prevent anemia: Folic acid is an essential factor in the production of red blood cells. Supplementing folic acid can help prevent megaloblastic anemia caused by folic acid deficiency.
6. Maintain nervous system health: Folic acid plays an important role in maintaining the normal function of the nervous system. A lack of folic acid may lead to memory loss and emotional problems.
7. Promote fetal brain development: Folic acid has a positive impact on fetal brain development and the establishment of cognitive functions.
8. Supports the overall health of pregnant women: Folic acid supplementation helps maintain the overall health of pregnant women and reduces the risk of complications during pregnancy.
It is recommended that pregnant mothers supplement folic acid at the recommended dose under the guidance of a doctor.
