Folic Acid and Pregnancy
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is an essential nutrient in DNA synthesis. It is crucial for reproductive cell production, fertilization, and pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States recommend all women of childbearing age receive 0.4-0.8 milligrams of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects (See image).
Usually, the neural tube formation, which will later transform into the brain and spinal cord, starts in the 2nd week of embryonic development.
If women have a folic acid deficiency, it can cause incomplete neural tube formation, leading to congenital brain and spinal cord malformations such as anencephaly. The baby cannot survive after birth, or it may have spina bifida which requires postnatal surgery.
Folic acid is usually present in fresh fruits and vegetables such as,
- Cauliflowers
- Flowers and leaves of Chinese chives
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Asparagus
- Oranges
- Green grapes
- Strawberries
- Nuts including peanuts and soybeans
- Liver.
However, during prolonged cooking with heat, folic acid is easily lost. Improper food consumption or cooking can lead to folic insufficiency. In Thailand, 65.5 % of women between 15 - 45 years old have a lower folic acid level than the normal range.
According to recent studies, taking folic acid supplements can prevent birth defects and boost fertility. It increases the odds of conception, minimizes anovulation and miscarriage, and enhances the success rate of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
The results are better in those who consume a higher folic acid dose than the recommended birth-defect-prevention dose. In a study of infertile women who underwent IVF treatment, those who took folic acid at a dose higher than 0.8 milligrams per day had a higher success rate than those who took folic acid at less than 0.4 milligrams per day.
In summary, those who plan for pregnancy, including women with infertility, should take folic acid supplements to reduce the risks of neural tube defects and improve fertility. Women of reproductive age who plan to become pregnant should receive at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.
Article by
Dr Pimpagar Chavanaves
An obstetrician & gynecologist specializing in reproductive endocrinology and menopause
Doctor profile
Fertility and Genetics Clinic