Folic acid tablets are certainly familiar to female friends who have been pregnant or are preparing to become pregnant. Many pregnant female friends take folic acid tablets. So, what exactly are folic acid tablets? When is the right time to take folic acid tablets? Can I take folic acid tablets if I am not pregnant? Next, let us find out together. Can I take folic acid tablets when I am not pregnant?
The main function of folic acid tablets is to prevent fetal neural tube malformations (anencephaly, spina bifida), with an effective rate of 85%; to prevent fetal cleft lip and palate, with an effective rate of 50%; Prevent fetal congenital heart disease, other body surface malformations and other birth defects; prevent pregnant women, wet nurses and fetal anemia.
For different indications, the usage of folic acid tablets is different:
1. When used to prevent birth defects, anemia and preventive administration in pregnant and lactating women; it is recommended to start from marriage From the beginning to the end of the lactation period (six months after the child is born), take one folic acid tablet (0.4 mg) daily. Women who have had a history of giving birth to children with neural tube defects and are suspected of having folic acid deficiency, take two folic acid tablets (0.8 mg) daily. mg).
2. The daily dosage should not exceed 1 mg.
3. For other applicable ranges of folic acid tablets, follow the doctor’s advice when taking it according to your condition.
Women of childbearing age should start taking folic acid supplements 3 months before pregnancy. When pregnant, women need to continue to supplement folic acid for another three months to ensure the folic acid demand of the expectant mother and fetus. The general dose of folic acid requires a daily supplement of 400 micrograms to meet the needs of pregnant women and last throughout pregnancy.
The optimal usage and dosage of folic acid tablets is: one tablet (0.4mg) once a day, and take it after meals. How to supplement folic acid before pregnancy
1. The critical period for folic acid supplementation
During the fetal period, the brain develops earliest and most rapidly; the first trimester (3 to 6 weeks) is the fetal central nervous system critical period for system growth and development.
2. Mom and dad should take supplements together
Some experts suggest that women who may be pregnant or plan to have a baby should pay attention to supplementing folic acid every day to prevent themselves from taking folic acid when the baby arrives. Not prepared, caught off guard. For men who plan to become fathers, insufficient folic acid will reduce the concentration of semen and may also cause abnormal chromosome segregation in the sperm, which will bring a great possibility of serious diseases to the future baby.
3. Supplement 600 mg per day
The total amount of folic acid in the human body is about 5 to 6 mg. However, the human body cannot synthesize folic acid on its own and can only ingest it from food for digestion and absorption.
Experts believe that pregnant mothers need to supplement 600 to 800 micrograms of folic acid every day to meet their baby's growth needs and their own needs.
4. Be particular about folic acid supplementation
There are many foods containing folic acid, but because folic acid is unstable when exposed to light or heat and easily loses activity, the human body can really obtain it from food. There is not much folic acid.
Therefore, pregnant mothers should change some cooking habits to reduce the loss of folic acid as much as possible, and also increase the intake of folic acid-rich foods. If necessary, they can supplement folic acid preparations, folic acid tablets, and multi-dimensional element tablets.