Folate Deficiency in Pregnancy — Folic Acid Against Fetal Anomalies
Every year, 3-5% of newborns are born with congenital anomalies, totaling approximately 120,000 infants. While the exact causes of these anomalies remain unknown, several risk factors are recognized as highly likely contributors to various developmental disorders.
These include genetic predisposition, the use of certain medications or harmful substances (such as alcohol, nicotine, and drugs) during pregnancy, exposure to mercury, specific infections (like rubella, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus), and deficiencies in certain vitamins — most notably, folic acid.
For prevention, it is important to undergo screening for specific infections before pregnancy, avoid taking medications without a doctor's prescription, address vitamin deficiencies through a healthy diet, and, if necessary, take folic acid supplements both before and during pregnancy.
Through which products can folic acid be obtained naturally?
Folic acid is naturally present in numerous food products of both animal and plant origin.
Animal sources of folic acid include meat (found in particularly high concentrations in beef liver and kidneys), fish, and seafood.
It is also abundant in plant-based sources, such as beans, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, soy, parsley, bananas, blackcurrants, feijoa, kiwi, oranges, mushrooms, caviar, tomatoes, and others.
What are the actual benefits of folic acid?
Taking folic acid before and during pregnancy is especially crucial because it promotes the formation of the baby’s neural tube and the production of nucleotides, which are the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA.
Folic acid intake is also essential for preventing congenital defects of the fetus's brain and spine.
Contraindications and Side Effects — What We Need to Know
Folic acid should not be taken by patients who have a hypersensitivity to it.
Additionally, folic acid is contraindicated in the presence of malignant neoplasms (tumors), malignant anemias, or cases of untreated cobalamin deficiency.
In most cases, the preparation is well-tolerated; however, rare adverse reactions may still occur, such as:
- Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, flatulence, and a bitter taste;
- Hypersensitivity reactions, including erythema, skin rash, itching, urticaria (hives), shortness of breath due to bronchospasm, arterial hypotension, and anaphylactic reactions, including shock;
- Chills, nighttime sleep disturbances, and seizures;
- Hypertrophy of epithelial cells in the renal tubules and impairment of their function.
Required Dosage for Pregnant Women
The daily dose of folate for pregnant women is 400–600 micrograms, which cannot be obtained solely through diet. Therefore, it is essential to take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy and even before conception.
