Folic acid is very important for anyone from small children up to adults, so the question is how much folic acid you need when pregnant? Folic acid (Vitamin B9) is soluble in water. Folic acid works to help the body make more cells healthy and for those who are in the program pregnant consume folic acid can prevent many diseases such as Spina bifida, prevent some types of cancer, maintaining healthy skin, nails and hair, helps avoid anemia, prevent birth defects, and is very good for fetal brain development.
Here below is the composition of folic acid is needed when pregnant:
Infants under the age of 5 years need 150 mcg of folic acid every day
Children 5-8 years need 200 mcg of folic acid every day
Children 9-13 years need 300 mcg of folic acid every day
Adolescents and adults in need of 400-600 mcg of folic acid every day
Pregnant women need 600-1000 mcg of folic acid every day
Breastfeeding mothers require 500 mcg of folic acid every day
If you previously had a baby suffering from a disorder of the brain or the spinal cord but still want to get pregnant again. The doctor will probably prescribe 4000 mcg of folic acid. This dose is 10 times larger than normal doses. Consume folic acid with high doses such as this can lower the risk of a baby suffering from the disorder. To obtain folic acid, you can consume various types of foods that contain folic acid such as fish oil, tuna fish, green vegetables, beef liver, wheat germ, yeast, dried beans, cereals, milk and orange juice also. In addition, you can also get it by purchasing a supplement of folic acid in drug stores. Folic acid also usually already contained in multivitamins sold in pharmacies. Check the label and the composition of your usual multivitamin consumption while pregnant and find out how many doses and amount of folic acid is contained in it. Keep in mind that folic acid is a vitamin that is soluble in water, so your body may experience interference when you consume too much.
By taking folic acid at the right dose at the time you run the program are pregnant will be spared from various diseases of birth defects, birth defects include :
1. Spina bifida, a birth defect of the spine occurs when the unborn baby is not close properly to protect the spinal cord. As a result, the nerves that control leg movement and other functions are not working. Children with spina bifida often have lifelong disabilities. Very likely these cases require surgery.
2. Anencephaly, which is when most or all of the brain does not develop. Infants with this issue die before or shortly after birth. The results of several studies suggest that folic acid may also help prevent the kinds of birth defects including two of the above disorders.
Symptoms Of Excess Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)
Then how the symptoms of excess folic acid? the symptoms are caused due to excess folic acid such as seizures, insomnia, and rash. For an overdose of vitamin B9 on natural food sources is not possible happen, but it may occur with the use of supplements. In addition there is also a secondary symptoms. Where the excess vitamin B9 is closely related to the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. As time consuming to above 1000 mcg of folic acid, the body will experience a shortage of vitamin B12. If this is allowed, according to the study, the nervous system of the body can be damaged because it did not sufficiently vitamin B12. Damaged nerves causing numbness. So it's quite dangerous if consumed excessively folic acid.
When you worry how much folic acid you need when pregnant, then you should first consult your doctor. Because in the other cases, some people also need more folic acid.
Tag :
Folic Acid,
Pregnant
