The vitamin folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, enjoys great popularity. This is because a consistent, adequate supply of folic acid during childbearing and pregnancy can dramatically reduce the risk of severe malformations in unborn babies. Folic acid, which is activated in the body by vitamin B12, is significantly involved in cell formation and cell protection.
100 million new cells
Women of childbearing age who take an additional 400 micrograms of folic acid daily demonstrate a high level of responsibility. During pregnancy, the rate of cell division increases and up to 100 million new cells are formed. This increases the need for folic acid in a pregnant woman by 50 percent. The additional intake of this vitamin, as well as vitamin B12 during pregnancy, but also already during the desire to have children, can therefore usually be advisable.
Folic acid in the desire to have children
Studies have shown that by taking an additional 600 micrograms of folic acid daily at least four weeks before the start of pregnancy, and especially in the first third of pregnancy, women could reduce the risk of malformations by 50 to 70 percent. Known malformations in children include a neural tube defect, also known as open spine. This malformation is attributed to a deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy.
An adequate supply of folic acid is of particular importance in the first trimester of pregnancy, because the formation of the neural tube is completely finished at this early stage. Therefore, broad education is necessary to counteract a folic acid deficiency. This primarily concerns women who wish to have children or pregnant women, who should pay attention to the sufficient supply of folic acid at an early stage.
Folic acid and food
Women, especially pregnant women, tend to consume too little folic acid through food. Folic acid is indeed present in many foods, such as green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, and lettuce), wheat germ, whole grains, and egg yolks. However, the increased need for folic acid in pregnancy can usually not be met by this.
In addition, the body has no storage system for folic acid. Folic acid is also an extremely sensitive vitamin: oxygen, heat and light cause the content of even folic acid-rich foods to shrink rapidly.
Furthermore, most women are not yet aware of their pregnancy at an early stage and therefore cannot adjust to an appropriate diet rich in folic acid. Therefore, early supplemental intake of folic acid may be critical from the time a woman wishes to have children.
Pregnancy and folic acid
Against this background, the German Society for Nutrition recommends that pregnant women and all women who wish to have children take 550 micrograms of folic acid daily. Of this, a maximum of 400 micrograms should be taken via dietary supplements. Preparations containing folic acid in combination with vitamins B6 and B12 have proven to be useful. Combined, these preparations protect the cells most effectively against damaging influences. Vitamin B12 also activates folic acid in the body.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises that no more than 3.5 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 25 micrograms of vitamin B12 should be taken daily via dietary supplements.
Depot preparations with folic acid for pregnant women
Furthermore, depot preparations that release the vitamins into the digestive tract with a time delay should be mentioned. The organism immediately excretes one-time, excessive intakes, since it has no storage system for folic acid.
Preparations such as Femibion, Folio or Orthomol Natal are examples of dietary supplements that aim to provide folic acid during pregnancy and the desire to have children.
An adequate supply of folic acid during pregnancy and thus effective protection for unborn children is no longer a problem nowadays: high-quality depot preparations are available in every pharmacy from various suppliers.
