One of the recommendations made to women who are going to seek pregnancy is a folic acid supplement, a supplement that must be maintained throughout pregnancy. But, Why is folic acid so important in pregnancy?
There is scientific evidence that the use of folates during the preconception period and in the first months of pregnancy can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the newborn. This includes risks such as anencephaly or acraneo, encephalocele and spina bifida.
Other preventable malformations by taking the right amount of folic acid during pregnancy cardiac ventricular septum defects, conotruncal heart defects, fetal urinary malformations, hydranencephaly and cleft lip.
Although folic acid is essential for a healthy baby, many babies are still born in the world with neuronal tube defects. But campaigns pointing out the importance of this component before pregnancy has caused the numbers to decrease in much of the world.
AdvertisingNow that we know the importance of folic acid comes the next question, How much folic acid should I drink?
Recommendations of folic acid in pregnancy
Several international organizations recommend supplementation with a pharmacological dose of folic acid of 4 mg / day to those women at high risk of having an affected child with a neuronal tube defect (previous child with a neural tube defect, epileptic patients being treated with valproic acid, alcohol-dependent and drug-dependent patients, evident hyponutrition ...).
For low-risk women who are planning to get pregnant it is recommended a supplementation with a pharmacological dose of folic acid of 0.4 mgrs / day, the same amount recommended for those women with low risk in fertile age (15-45 years), with risk of pregnancy.
In all cases the ideal period for this pharmacological supplementation is from at least two months before the beginning of pregnancy, until the 12th week of gestation.
In addition, it is advisable to eat a healthy diet rich in folic acid, which includes foods such as green leafy vegetables, avocados, nuts and dried fruits, tomatoes, fruits (orange, avocado or avocado, strawberries, grapefruit or banana ...), legumes such as peas, beans or beans ...
These tips are intended to ensure that the woman who becomes pregnant has an adequate folate status, since the risk of having a child affected by a neuronal tube defect and other congenital malformations is inversely correlated with the levels of maternal folates .
Definitely, folic acid is important for a healthy pregnancy, so you have to take a supplement even before you get pregnant. This without forgetting, of course, a healthy and varied diet that helps the body to be well prepared to accommodate the baby.
