Patient's question:
I have been taking Centrum and Vitamin E, with no specific medical reason, just because I heard that people should start taking these at 30. Now I am planning to have a child. Could you please tell me if it is okay to continue taking them during pregnancy preparation and after getting pregnant?Thank you
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Based on the situation you described, if there are no symptoms after pregnancy, it is not necessary to take it. Positive and appropriate nutritional support is sufficient. However, it is essential to pay close attention to folic acid supplementation. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that is richly stored in green leafy vegetables, fruits, and animal livers. Folic acid participates in the entire process of human metabolism and is a necessary vitamin for synthesizing important substances like DNA in the human body. Its deficiency can not only lead to neural tube defects in fetuses but also increase the incidence of malformations in organs such as the eyes, lips, palate, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, kidneys, and bones.During the period from one month before pregnancy to three months after pregnancy, taking 0.4 milligrams of folic acid supplementation daily can prevent most neural tube defects in fetuses. It is worth noting that women taking folic acid should do so under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, the following points should be kept in mind:
1. Folic acid supplementation must begin one month before pregnancy. The emphasis on starting before pregnancy is to maintain a certain level of folic acid in women's bodies, ensuring that the early embryo has a better nutritional status of folic acid. Research shows that it takes about four weeks for women to correct a deficiency in folic acid after taking it. This way, during the sensitive period of neural tube formation in early pregnancy, sufficient folic acid can meet the needs of nervous system development. Moreover, it is essential to continue taking it during the first three months of pregnancy for the best preventive effect.
2. Women in areas with a low incidence of neural tube defects in China should also supplement with folic acid. The incidence of neural tube defects in China is higher in northern regions