Pregnancy health centre

Folic acid and pregnancy

Thanks to better screening, public health information campaigns and recommendations on folic acid intake in pregnancy, the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) has dropped in recent years.

These defects include spina bifida, and anencephaly which is a condition in which the brain is not properly formed or is at least partly missing. Children who survive are often left paralysed for life.

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NTDs are largely preventable if mothers-to-be take folic acid before and during their pregnancy.

Not all women are getting the message, though. In a study in the British Medical Journal, 44% of women had not taken a folic acid supplement in the three months before becoming pregnant.

What is folic acid?

Folic acid, also called folate, is a B vitamin. It plays a role in cell production and division, including the production of red blood cells. It's found in foods, fortified cereals and other grain products, as well as in vitamin supplements.

What are the benefits of folic acid?

The NHS says "Folic acid is very important for the development of a healthy foetus, as it can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida." Without folic acid, the neural tube may not close correctly. The baby can develop spina bifida, a condition in which the spinal cord and/or a sac filled with fluid protrudes through an opening in the back, or can develop anencephaly. Babies with anencephaly usually do not live long, and those with spina bifida may be permanently disabled.

Research suggests that, when taken before and during pregnancy, folic acid may also protect against other birth defects, including:

Cleft lip and palate. In one study, women who took multivitamins, took at least 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid daily, and ate a healthy diet had the lowest risk of delivering a child with an opening in the lip (cleft lip).
Pregnancy complications. One report found that women who took folic acid supplements during the second trimester had a reduced risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, a serious condition known as pre-eclampsia.
Premature birth. A study by the March of Dimes in the US found that women who took folic acid for at least a year before getting pregnant cut their chances of delivering early by 50% or more.
Low birthweight.
Miscarriage.
Poor growth in the womb.

In addition to protecting your baby from birth defects, folic acid could also protect your own health. Studies suggest it may help maintain heart health heart and help reduce risk of some types of cancers.
In addition, in April 2010 the MHRA – the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - licensed folic acid oral solution to be used in the treatment of:

Anaemia due to a lack of folic acid in adults and children
Anaemia in pregnancy
Anaemia associated with alcoholism
Anaemia, as a side effect from medicines used to control fitting
Anaemia due to damaged red blood cells e.g. sickle cell anaemia
Sprue (tropical and non-tropical) - a disorder where essential nutrients are not absorbed from the diet
Coeliac disease, a disorder caused by intolerance of gluten in the diet.