Folic Acid: Why Should Pregnant Women Adhere to a Daily Dose?

- Folic acid is one of the forms of folate, and it helps the body to form new cells such as blood cells, brain cells, skin cells, hair, and nails; every new cell in the body needs folate. The importance of folic acid is particularly highlighted during the early stages of pregnancy, as it plays a crucial role in helping the development of the "neural tube" which later forms the brain and spinal cord of the fetus.

Folic acid is the only type of folate that studies have proven to help prevent serious birth defects known as neural tube defects; these are major congenital defects affecting the brain and spinal cord of the fetus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that neural tube defects occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

By the time a woman discovers she is pregnant, it may be too late to prevent these defects; for this reason, obtaining 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during the early stages of pregnancy is important to help prevent neural tube defects. Additionally, in cases of unplanned pregnancies, obtaining 400 micrograms of folic acid daily remains important, as the body uses this acid to produce new cells.

Therefore, all women are advised to start a healthy habit by obtaining 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. What foods contain folic acid?

Folic acid is added to refined or processed foods such as: Since 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required food manufacturers to add folic acid to bread, breakfast cereals, flour, cornmeal, pasta, rice, and other processed grains. For other foods, one can check the "Nutrition Facts" label on the package to see if they contain folic acid; the label also indicates the amount of folic acid present in each serving.

Sometimes, it may be referred to as folate instead of folic acid. What happens if I do not get enough folic acid during pregnancy?

If a woman does not get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy, the child is at a higher risk of developing neural tube defects. Neural tube defects are serious congenital defects that affect the spine, spinal cord, or brain, and can lead to death.