Folic acid (FolicAcid), also called vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in all life systems ranging from viruses and bacteria to humans. It was originally extracted from spinach leaves. , so it is called folic acid.

Folic acid is an indispensable nutrient for fetal growth and development. Lack of folic acid in pregnant women may lead to low birth weight, cleft lip and palate, and heart defects in the fetus. Lack of folic acid during the first 3 months of pregnancy can cause neural tube development defects in the fetus, leading to malformations. Therefore, women who are preparing to become pregnant can start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day before pregnancy.

Function 1 of folic acid:

Helps prevent neural tube defects (also called "neural tube malformations"), including very serious birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Neural tube defects are a common congenital malformation among newborns in China.

China is a country with a high incidence of birth defects (including neural tube defects). The total number of children with congenital disabilities accounts for about 4% to 6% of the total population born every year. For this reason, the Chinese government sets September 12 every year as China’s “Birth Defects Prevention Day.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out that if a woman takes the recommended daily dose of folic acid at least one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy, she can prevent her baby from developing neurological problems. The risk of tube defects is reduced by 50% to 70%.

Folic acid benefit 2:

It may also help reduce your baby's risk of other types of birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate and certain types of heart defects.

A study by the Institute of Reproductive Health of Peking University in China shows that taking folic acid supplements alone can not only effectively prevent neural tube defects, but also reduce major surface malformations in newborns by 15% and cleft lip and palate by 30%. and 35% of congenital heart disease, thus reducing neonatal mortality by 20%.

Function 3 of folic acid:

Prevent anemia in pregnant women. The body of pregnant women needs folic acid to produce normal red blood cells.

In China, according to the results of the 2004 Nutrition and Health Status Survey of Chinese Residents, the prevalence of anemia among Chinese women of childbearing age is 20.6%. Not getting enough folic acid can also make you anemic. This also highlights your critical need for folic acid.

Function 4 of folic acid:

It is very important for the basic structure of DNA and cells. Therefore, getting enough folic acid is particularly important for the rapidly growing placenta and baby.

Five functions of folic acid:

Taking multivitamins containing folic acid may reduce the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women.