Folic Acid - An Essential Part of Pregnancy Nutrition
Folic acid is an important part of pregnancy nutrition. John C. Swartz, Nutritional Counselor, discusses how folic acid has been proven to help prevent neural tube defects, and how women can include sources of folic acid with their pregnancy nutrition.
Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) June 7, 2004 -- Folic acid is an important part of
pregnancy nutrition during the first trimester. Between days 17 to 30, four to
six weeks after the first days of a woman’s last menstrual cycle, the formation
and closure of the neural tube occurs. The neural tube will later become the
spinal cord, brain, and bone surrounding the spinal cord and brain. If the fetus
does not receive the proper pregnancy nutrition before and during the first
trimester, neural tube defects may occur.
Neural Tube Defects: Spina
Bifida and Anencephaly
Neural tube defects occur very early in pregnancy.
During the first trimester, one of the ends of the neural tube will fail to
close properly resulting in this type of birth defect. The two most common
neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly.
Spina bifida
results when the lower end of the neural tube fails to close. As a result, the
spinal cord and vertebrate do not develop properly. Sometimes a sac of fluid
protrudes through an opening in the back, and often a portion of the spinal cord
is contained in this sac. Symptoms associated with spina bifida
include:
- paralysis of the infant’s
legs
- loss of bowel and bladder
control
- water on the brain
-
learning disabilities
The survival rate for infants born with spina
bifida is 80%. Despite varying degrees of disability, many individuals with
spina bifida lead long, successful, and productive lives.
Anencephaly is
a fatal condition in which the upper end of the neural tube fails to close. This
results in the brain not developing completely or not being present entirely.
Pregnancies affected by anencephaly often result in miscarriages and the infants
who are born alive die immediately after birth.
How Folic Acid Can Help
Prevent Neural Tube Defects
Folic acid has been proven to help prevent a
neural tube defect pregnancy by 50 to 70 percent, when taken one month before
conception and throughout the first trimester. Folic acid is necessary for
proper cell growth and development of the embryo. Although it is not known
exactly how folic acid works to prevent neural tube defects, its role in tissue
formation is essential. Folic acid is required for the production of DNA, which
is necessary for the rapid cell growth needed to make fetal tissues and organs
early in pregnancy. For this reason it is important for a woman to have
sufficient folic acid ingested before and during pregnancy.
Sources of
Folic Acid
When looking for sources of folic acid, it’s important to
understand that there are two major sources of this B-vitamin: folate and folic
acid. Folate is the form found naturally found in foods. Folic acid is the
synthetic form that is used in vitamin supplements and added to fortified foods.
Most of the folate found in foods has a more complex structure than the
synthetic folic acid. A more complex structure affects the intestine’s ability
to process and absorb folate found in foods. The body can absorb and use the
folic acid found in vitamin supplements and prepared foods more efficiently than
it can convert the food folate into a useable form. As a result, synthetic folic
acid is about twice as bioavailable or absorbable than naturally occurring food
folate.
KRS Global Biotechnology (http://www.gbtbio.com) carries three vitamin supplements that
contain folic acid:
- Folic Acid Sol-U-Tab (http://secure.gbtbio.com/cgi-bin/estore/PR224-250.html)
contains 800mcg of folic acid. "Sol-U-Tab" process allows for faster absorption
than the standard folic acid supplement.
- Prenatal
Multi-Vitamin (http://secure.gbtbio.com/cgi-bin/estore/PR611-240.html)
contains 800mcg of folic acid. This prenatal multi-vitamin can be taken before
and during pregnancy.
- Folic Acid and B-12 Sublingual
Drops (http://secure.gbtbio.com/cgi-bin/estore/PR254-01.html)
contains 400mcg of folic acid. Vitamin B-12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells
and red blood cells.
Reducing Risks By Taking Folic Acid Every
Day
Women need to get enough folic acid every day throughout their
reproductive years. This B-vitamin must be taken daily for at least one month
before conception and continue taking it through the first trimester of
pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. The U.S. Public Health Service
recommends that all women of childbearing age should consume at least 400
micrograms of folic acid everyday to reduce their risk of having an affected
pregnancy.
For women who have already had an affected pregnancy, it is
recommended that a much larger amount of folic acid be taken starting one month
before conception and continuing throughout the first three months of pregnancy.
Finally, all women capable of becoming pregnant should consume enough folic acid
every day because half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned and
neural tube defects occur before many women know that they are
pregnant.
John C. Swartz is an independent nutritional counselor located
in Boca Raton, FL. KRS Global Biotechnology, Inc. does research and development
in microbiology, instrumentation and clinical nutrition. The information
provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute
for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should
consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or
supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect
you might have a health problem.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb131633.htm