Patient's question:
Hello, I heard that it's best to supplement with folic acid before pregnancy, but if I don't lack folic acid in my body, taking it might not be good for the baby. How should I know if I need to supplement with folic acid? Thank you!!!Doctor's answer:
Hello: The main physiological functions of folic acid are:1. It is an essential factor for the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids and plays a vital role in cell division and reproduction;
2. It is involved in the formation of the porphyrin group, the structural component of hemoglobin, and is necessary for the rapid proliferation of red and white blood cells;
3. It facilitates the interconversion of glycine and serine, the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine, histidine to glutamate, and the formation of cysteine to methionine;
4. It participates in the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids such as DHA in the brain, as well as the synthesis of creatine and adrenaline.
5. It enables the synthesis of choline from ethanolamine in alcohol.
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin, abundant in green leafy vegetables, fruits, and animal livers. It is involved in the entire process of human metabolism and is a necessary vitamin for synthesizing important substances like DNA in the 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 one month before pregnancy and the three months after, taking 0.4 milligrams of folic acid supplementation daily can prevent most neural tube defects in fetuses. It is worth noting that women should take folic acid under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, the following points should be observed:
1. It must be taken one month before pregnancy. The emphasis on starting before pregnancy is to ensure that women maintain a certain level of folic acid in their bodies, providing early embryos with better folic acid nutrition. Research shows that after women take folic acid, it takes about 4 weeks