Dose of folic acid when planning pregnancy for women and men

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today, young couples are more responsible in planning their pregnancy. After visiting a doctor and passing the necessary tests, they receive a number of recommendations and prescriptions, among which the leading place is given to taking folic acid. What is the reason for such a need? What is the dose of folic acid when planning a pregnancy and how long to take this vitamin? The answers to these and other questions can be found in the following article.

Benefits of folic acid for the body

The name of this vitamin has Latin roots and comes from the word folium, which translates as "leaf". Indeed, folic acid is found in large quantities in the leaves of spinach, lettuce and other green vegetables. All these products are very useful for humans.

The beneficial properties of folic acid and its necessity for the stable functioning of the body are as follows:

• normal blood formation processes;
• formation of red blood cells;
• synthesis of proteins and DNA;
• cell division of all organs and tissues;
• normal fetal development in the first trimester of pregnancy and beyond;
• active participation in the production of serotonin, which is considered the hormone of joy;
• prevention of dementia, depression, neuroses.

It is worth noting that folic acid is also known to many under a different name - vitamin B9. The human body receives it with certain foods, and is also independently produced in the upper part of the small intestine by its normal microflora. And this amount is usually quite enough to cover the daily requirement for vitamin B9. That is why people so rarely feel its deficiency. That's just without this vitamin can not do during pregnancy and when planning. The dose of folic acid during these periods should be increased several times, since its deficiency negatively affects the he alth of the expectant mother and baby.

Norms of vitamin B9 for the human body

To fully meet the need and need for folic acid, absolutely all people, regardless of gender and age, should receive it additionally in the form of tablets. Severe deficiency of this vitamin in the body can lead to growth retardation in children, immunodeficiency, prolonged wound healing, exacerbation of chronic diseases. Most acuteFolic acid deficiency is felt by pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and young children.

Daily Values for Folic Acid for People of Different Ages:

• children under 1 year old - 65-85 mcg;
• 1 to 3 years - 150-300mcg;
• 4 to 13 years - 200-600mcg;
• 14 to 18 years - 600-800mcg;
• adults 18 years and older - 400-600mcg;
• pregnant and lactating - 800-1000 mcg.

When planning pregnancy, the daily dose of folic acid is similar to the vitamin norm for women during the period of bearing a baby and during lactation. Moreover, you should not give up products that contain a lot of folic acid, for fear of an overdose. Vitamin B9 is water soluble. This means that the required amount is absorbed by the body, and the excess is excreted.

Folic acid for pregnancy planning

A woman must prepare in advance for carrying a baby: take general blood and urine tests, check hormones, and do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. All these manipulations at the planning stage are aimed at making sure that the body is ready for the most important mission in her life. Not only a woman, but also her partner should be more responsible for their he alth. A few months before the planned conception, it is recommended to give up cigarettes and alcohol, review your diet in favor of proper nutrition, etc.

When planning a pregnancy, a woman is prescribed folic acid 3-4 months before the possibleconception, so that by the time the fertilized egg is attached to the uterus, it does not have a deficiency of this vitamin in the body. Further, taking drugs containing folacin should be continued until at least 12 weeks. After this period, a pregnant woman can still drink folic acid until the very birth or get vitamin B9 only from food.

Why do we need folacin at the planning stage? Vitamin B9 in the body provides prevention:

• miscarriages;
• spontaneous abortions;
• placental abruption;
• other complications.

With insufficient dietary intake of folacin, there is a high risk of early fetal death.

Folic acid in different trimesters of pregnancy

B9 is the only vitamin that every pregnant woman must take. That is why, as soon as a pregnant woman finds out about her situation, she should start taking folic acid tablets. If a woman took this vitamin at the planning stage, she simply continues to take it until at least 12 weeks of gestation.

Starting from the 13th week of pregnancy, many doctors cancel folic acid for their patients. From the second trimester, women are usually prescribed special multivitamin complexes. They contain all the vitamins necessary for a pregnant woman, including folic acid. If a woman for some reason does not take such complexes, she is recommended to continue taking vitamin B9 asat least until birth. But since nursing mothers also often experience a lack of folic acid, they can drink such drugs during lactation.

Usually, a lack of vitamin B9 is accompanied by the following symptoms in a pregnant woman:

• constant fatigue;
• depression;
• anxiety, irritability;
• lack of appetite;
• insomnia;
• memory deterioration;
• skin peeling and hair loss;
• stomatitis;
• apathy;
• pain in the legs.

Lack of vitamin B9 is dangerous for all kinds of malformations, primarily defects in the neural tube of the fetus. That's why it's so important to start folacin preparations before pregnancy, when planning.

What is the dose of folic acid for a woman, you can find out if you take a blood test to determine the concentration of vitamin B9 in the human body. If the results reveal its deficiency, the dosage of the vitamin for a pregnant woman will need to be increased by 5 times.

What is the dose of folic acid when planning a pregnancy?

The norm of vitamin B9 per day for an adult is 400 mcg. This amount is enough to cover the daily need for folic acid. Excess is known to be excreted on its own as this vitamin is water soluble.

When planning, the dosage of folic acid for women who have not previously had miscarriages and children with neural tube defects is0.4 mg per day. That is, it is enough for her to take vitamin B9 in the same amount as an adult. If a woman has a history of miscarriages or the birth of children with defects in the formation of the neural tube, when planning the dose of folic acid, she needs to increase to 1000-4000 mcg. In addition, if a pregnant woman takes drugs that slow down or prevent the absorption of vitamin B9, her daily intake should also be increased. In such cases, the dosage can be determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

After confirmation of pregnancy, all women should continue taking folic acid up to 13 weeks at the same amount as planned. In some cases, a doctor's prescription is recommended until the very birth.

How much folic acid when planning to take?

Preparations containing vitamin B9 are prescribed not only to expectant mothers, but also to their partners. The dosage of folic acid for a man is determined by the doctor on an individual basis. Usually it is equal to 400 micrograms and corresponds to the daily norm for an adult.

Another question that concerns expectant mothers and fathers is how much folic acid should be taken when planning a pregnancy. Based on the recommendations of most doctors, vitamin B9 is prescribed to drink within 3-4 months before the intended conception. Take medications with folic acid should be 1 time per day after meals.

Men need vitamin B9

Studies have shown that folic acid is just as important for men as it is for women when it comes to planning. A high concentration of vitamin B9 reduces the risk of maturation of defective spermatozoa. And this, in turn, increases the chances of conceiving a he althy child. Statistics show that in men who took folic acid during planning, the number of sperm with defects, that is, with the wrong number of chromosomes, decreased by 20%. This is a very good prevention of the birth of children with genetic abnormalities and malformations.

Men who want to increase their chances of having a he althy baby should definitely include foods high in folic acid in their diet. In addition, they are additionally advised to take drugs with folacin or other dietary supplements.

When planning, men, like women, are prescribed folic acid at a dosage of 400 mcg. However, this rate can be increased to 800 mcg per day. The dosage of folic acid after drinking a lot of alcohol is usually doubled, since alcohol leaches vitamin B9 from the body.

What is the danger of folic acid deficiency?

Vitamin B9 is necessary for every person, without exception, for the natural division of cells and tissues in his body. To maintain its normal structure, dead cells are replaced by new, intact ones. And the most active cell division, during which all organs and tissues are laid, occurs just after conception, during the growth and development of the embryo in the first 12 weeks.gestation. That is why it is so important to follow the dose of folic acid prescribed by your doctor when planning a pregnancy.

Vitamin B9 deficiency in the body threatens the following:

• the formation of defective sperm and eggs;
• the formation of malformations in the embryo;
• increased risk of miscarriages, anembryos, placental abruption;
• deterioration of the skin condition (dryness, sagging, peeling);
• diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Active cell division, which results in the formation of organs and systems, begins immediately after the fertilized egg is introduced into one of the walls of the uterus. Often at this point, the woman is not yet aware that she is pregnant. Meanwhile, during the growth and development of the embryo, it is extremely important for her to receive all the necessary vitamins, including folic acid. And so that the body does not experience a deficiency in it, you should take the pills a few months before pregnancy.

Scientists have found that taking folic acid during the planning period and during the bearing of a baby reduces the likelihood of developing disorders of the fetal nervous system by more than 70%.

Medications with folic acid

In the network of pharmacies, women planning pregnancy, as well as men, can offer a number of drugs with different names and with different dosages of vitamin B9:

1. "Folic acid". One tablet of this drug contains 1 mg (1000 micrograms) of folic acid. Excipients:powdered sugar, potato starch, stearic acid.
2. "Folio". This biologically active food supplement is indicated for women planning motherhood, pregnant and breastfeeding women. One Folio tablet contains 0.4 mg of folic acid and 0.2 mg of iodine (potassium iodide), which is no less important for the full development of the fetus.
3. "Folacin". One tablet of this drug contains a therapeutic dose of folic acid (5 mg). According to the instructions, planning women are advised to take 2.5 mg per day for 4 weeks before the intended pregnancy. The drug should be continued throughout the first trimester.

Check with your gynecologist to find out how much folic acid to take when planning. It will help you choose the most optimal dosage, taking into account the state of he alth of the mother.

Vitamin B9 in food

In addition to taking prophylactic doses of folic acid, when planning a pregnancy, it is recommended to review your menu. It is imperative to introduce foods rich in vitamin B9 into the diet. Folic acid is found in the following foods:

• parsley and beet greens;
• spinach;
• leaf lettuce;
• carrot;
• bow;
• cauliflower and Brussels sprouts;
• oranges, grapefruits;
• beef liver and kidneys;
• buckwheat;
• oatmeal;
• millet;
• beans.

When compiling the menu, it should be noted that during heat treatmentproducts, the amount of vitamins in them decreases. And this means that it will be much more useful to eat a salad of fresh vegetables than a pound of boiled beans.

Folic acid is perhaps one of the most important vitamins during pregnancy, which must be taken before pregnancy. It is quite difficult to get it exclusively from food. Therefore, you should not completely ignore the doctor's recommendations or deliberately reduce the dosage of the prescribed drug. Exceeding the daily allowance of folic acid has not harmed anyone, but its deficiency is fraught with serious consequences for mother and child.