Post Date December, 03 2023
If you have children in the future, here we provide some important information to future mothers. You should pay more attention to folic acid now. Folate is a type of vitamin B that is found in many foods, and many vitamin and mineral supplements also include folic acid. Folic acid supplementation is necessary before and during the first few weeks of pregnancy to reduce the likelihood of a severe and common type of malformation, namely neuromuscular malformation, which mainly affects the brain and spine.
The most subtle thing is that neural abnormalities affect the embryo before women know they are pregnant. Therefore, for women of all reproductive ages, it becomes very important to consume folic acid from food: once pregnant, it can reduce the probability of infants developing brain or spinal deformities.
Women of reproductive age should consume an appropriate amount of folic acid every day Dr. Elizabeth Yetley, director of FDA's Office of Special Nutrition and a qualified dietitian, said.
Due to the potential of folic acid to reduce the risk of neural malformations, the FDA has requested food manufacturers to add folic acid to grains. The way for women to get enough folic acid is to eat fortified bread and other grain products, such as fortified pasta, rice, Belgian cakes, and oatmeal sugar.
Other ways to achieve the goal
Eat more fruits, dark leafy vegetables, dried beans, and other foods containing natural folic acid. Eat more cereal products with added folic acid and breakfast cereals.
Eat more vitamin supplements containing folic acid.
Nutritional information on food and oral supplements helps women determine whether they have taken enough folic acid: 400 milligrams per day before pregnancy, and 800 milligrams per day during pregnancy.
Neural malformation
Moderate folic acid can reduce the birth rate of two types of congenital malformations, known as anencephalic division and spinal division. Anencephaly means that a baby's brain cannot develop and often dies immediately after birth. Spinal splitting is a deformity of the spinal column that can lead to varying degrees of disability: from moderate to imperceptible scoliosis (curvature of both sides of the spine), to paralysis or incontinence. With appropriate treatment, infants with spinal deformities can grow into adults, but require leg braces, crutches, or other devices to assist them in walking, and may also experience learning disabilities. Among them, 30% may experience varying degrees of intellectual disability.
According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 2500 infants in the United States each year who suffer from spinal disorders and anencephaly at birth.
Scientists first pointed out the relationship between neural abnormalities and diet in the 1950s. These conditions are more likely to occur in vulnerable social groups, as women in these groups are generally malnourished. Infants who conceive in winter and early spring are also more susceptible to spinal deformities, possibly due to the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in the mother's diet during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
In 1991, it was found in the UK that 72% of women who had previously had neural malformations had a lower chance of having the next malformation if a doctor prescribed folic acid dose and received sufficient supplementation before and during early pregnancy.
Another study observed Hungarian women who consumed folic acid. Evidence shows that mothers who have never given birth to neural malformations and women who take various vitamin and mineral supplements supplemented with folic acid have a lower chance of receiving neural malformations again than regular women.
These studies led the US Department of Health to call in September 1992 for women of all reproductive ages to take 0.4mg of niacin daily to reduce the risk of spinal or other neurological abnormalities during pregnancy.
This suggestion also echoes the FDA's daily recommended value for folic acid. Pregnant women, children, elderly people, and adult men have a dose of 400 milligrams. For pregnant women, it jumps to 800 milligrams. The daily recommended value is the amount indicated on the Nutrition Facts on the food label, which displays the portion size of various nutrients in a 'serving' of food.
According to estimates from the US Department of Agriculture, among women aged 19 to 50. Many people consume less than 400 milligrams of folic acid per day.
Source of Folic Acid
Many foods contain folic acid, such as liver, dark leafy vegetables such as olives, green radishes, and Romanian lettuce, cauliflower, and asparagus; Orange fruits and juices, whole grain products; Maigen, dried beans such as flower beans, broad beans, chickpeas, and black eyed beans.
After the FDA additive regulations came into effect in January 1998, manufacturers were required to add 0.43mg to 1.4mg of folic acid per pound of product in flour, various types of bread, cereal, coarse corn, corn meal, rice, and noodles. Each product should provide 10% of the recommended daily amount of folic acid for each serving. Whole grain products do not need to be added as they already contain natural folic acid. Some non grain products, although also containing natural folic acid, are often lost during processing.
You can also take folic acid from oral supplements, such as folic acid tablets, various vitamins with added niacin, and fortified breakfast cereals.
A recent report from the Institute of Medicine suggests that there is evidence to suggest that folic acid, a synthetic form of folic acid, may be more beneficial for human absorption than natural folic acid found in food. The report also points out that as long as consumed properly, folic acid in food can be equally effective as folic acid.
Searching for food containing folic acid
Some information on the labels of food and oral supplements can help women identify which foods are rich in niacin. Some foods claim that the product contains high levels of folic acid, which means that one serving contains 20% of the recommended daily amount of folic acid. The label will also indicate the "good source" of folic acid, which means that the "serving" provides 10% to 19% of the recommended daily amount of folic acid. The exact quantity will be listed on the nutrition table on the label.
There will also be some non mandatory information on the health statement, informing consumers about the risks associated with neurological abnormalities, telling you when to see a doctor, which foods contain folic acid, and other important information about neurological abnormalities.
Other considerations
Although various information about folic acid is important, it does not mean that moderate intake of folic acid can ensure a healthy baby, as many factors can affect pregnancy.
When considering pregnancy, women should remember that folic acid can provide significant benefits. But many factors, including overall good diet, are equally important for healthy childbirth in infants Ms. Jeanne Latham, the consumption safety officer of the FDA Special Nutrition Office and a qualified dietitian, gave such advice.
Genes and other healthy prenatal habits, such as not eating excessively, play equally important roles. But unlike genes, food is something that women can fully grasp to promote their own and infant health, "said Dr. Jeanne Rade, Director of Science and Applied Technology at the FDA Food Labeling Office.
Folic acid is one of the essential nutrients for women of childbearing age in a healthy diet. By consuming balanced nutrients from a wide range of foods, one can obtain all nutrients, including an appropriate amount of folic acid, "he said.
Nutritionists say that there are several ways for women to achieve an appropriate intake of folic acid: they can obtain the necessary nutrients and calories before and during pregnancy through a balanced diet, while also eating foods rich in folic acid. Fortified cereal products with folic acid additives, including breakfast cereals, can be beneficial. Oral supplements are also another source of folic acid.
Any one or a combination of the above methods can ensure that women of childbearing age have a healthy starting point for their babies during pregnancy.
