The amount of folic acid supplementation for pregnant women
Release time : 09/06/2025 09:30:03
Folic acid is a complex of vitamins B, and it is extracted from spinach leaves, so it is named "folic acid".
Folic acid can effectively promote the maturation of immature cells in bone marrow, and it is extremely important for pregnant women. Lack of folic acid may cause megaloblastic anemia and leukopenia.
It is crucial for pregnant women to supplement folic acid, as it can significantly reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in fetuses. According to expert recommendations, the daily intake of folic acid should not be less than 400 micrograms. It is advisable to begin supplementation three months before pregnancy and continue until the full term of the pregnancy.
The role of folic acid supplementation in pregnant women: 1. Prevention of neural tube defects, also known as "neural tube anomalies", which can be reduced by supplementing folic acid during pregnancy. It has a significant preventative effect on severe defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, among others. It should be noted that neural tube defects are common congenital anomalies in newborns in China.
2. To reduce the incidence of cleft lip and palate and certain types of heart defects.
3. To prevent anemia in pregnant women, it is necessary for them to take folic acid to produce normal red blood cells.
4. Adequate folic acid intake is crucial for DNA and cell structure, as well as for the rapidly growing placenta and the developing baby.
Pregnant women should consume folic acid in their diets, and there is no need to take supplements. Besides taking medication directly, pregnant women can also increase the intake of folic acid in their daily diets. Let's look at which foods contain folic acid.
Vegetables: carrots, water spinach, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, lentils, pods, mushrooms, rapeseed, cauliflower, etc.
Fruits: strawberry, cherry, banana, sour jujube, hawthorn, pomegranate, lemon, peach, orange, plum, kiwi, persimmon, almond, apricot, crabapple, grapes.
Meat and Eggs: Animal liver and kidney, poultry meat, beef, mutton, as well as eggs.
Beans and Grains: Walnuts, cashews, chestnuts, almonds, pine nuts, barley, wheat germ, brown rice, etc.
Pregnant women should supplement folic acid until the third trimester of pregnancy. It is recommended to start taking 0.4 mg of folic acid tablets daily and continue until the end of the third trimester.
During the late stages of pregnancy, it is still permissible to continue taking folic acid supplements at the same dosage as during early pregnancy. However, for pregnant women who have a balanced diet, there is no need to supplement with additional folic acid in the late stages of pregnancy.
Prenatal folic acid supplementation is of great importance for pregnant women. Folic acid plays a crucial role in the development of the baby, as it can effectively prevent birth defects such as congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, and anencephaly.
However, there are certain considerations when it comes to taking folic acid supplements. For expectant mothers, what should we pay attention to when supplementing with folic acid? 1. Taking folic acid tablets means that human beings cannot synthesize folic acid on their own; therefore, we must obtain it from external sources through food.
Although green vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, oranges, strawberries, liver, and chicken all contain folate, the traditional Chinese cooking methods tend to cause folate loss during high temperatures. Therefore, relying solely on food intake is insufficient to meet the folate needs of the human body, especially those of pregnant women.
Taking folic acid supplements through folic acid tablets is a good choice, but it is important to note that pregnant women must take folic acid tablets under the guidance of their doctors and should not purchase them on their own.
2. It is important to supplement folate in a proper amount. So, how much should be the daily intake of folate? The total amount of folate in the human body is about 5-6 milligrams, but we cannot synthesize folate ourselves, we can only obtain it from food for digestion and absorption.
The baby grows and develops continuously in the mother's womb, with folic acid being transferred from the mother to the baby through the placenta. With the continuous growth of the placental tissue and the uterus, the demand for folic acid increases. If one does not consciously supplement it, the level of folic acid will decrease.
Experts believe that every pregnant woman needs to take 400-800 micrograms of folic acid daily to meet the growth needs and personal requirements of the baby.
The medical content presented in this text is for reference only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
In case of discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on the professional medical advice provided by a face-to-face consultation.