How long can you take folic acid if you have anemia?

Vitamin B 9 is vital for humans. Its insufficient intake leads to immunity disorders, pathologies of the nervous system, anemia, deterioration of the function of the digestive organs, hair loss, brittle nails and skin diseases. Preparations containing it are prescribed for the correction and prevention of various conditions of the body, at the planning stage and in the first weeks of pregnancy. When is supplemental folic acid needed, how should I take it? Let's consider the rules of administration and dosage.

Synthetic forms of vitamin B9

Polluted environment, irregular diet, low quality products can lead to a lack of vitamin B9 in the body. In such cases, additional intake of folic acid in tablet form is required.

This water-soluble vitamin is well absorbed by humans, and synthetic forms are not inferior to natural ones in this regard. A small dose of folate is contained in all vitamin complexes. To prevent various diseases, it is drunk either alone or in combination with other B vitamins, ascorbic acid or iron.

The form of folate, dosage and method of administration are determined by the doctor, taking into account the characteristics of the body and the purpose of the prescription. They are produced in tablet form, in the form of capsules, in ampoules for injection or use in cosmetology, in powders.

Folic acid: instructions for use.

This substance belongs to the B vitamins. Now folic acid is usually called vitamin B9, but when it was first discovered, it was given the name Bc. Why "s"? Everything is very simple. When researchers isolated the vitamin in its pure form and began to study its effect on animals, the first subjects were chickens, on which it acted as a growth factor. That’s where the “c” comes from: it’s the first letter of the English word “chicken,” which means “chicken.”

By the way, this acid is also called folic acid for a reason. It was first discovered in yeast extract, but then it began to be found in other foods: spinach, lettuce, cabbage, etc. Most sources of vitamin B9 are represented by green leafy vegetables, so they decided to enshrine this fact in its name: “folium” means “leaf” in Latin.

Why does the body need folic acid?

Once inside the cells, the vitamin is converted into its active form and participates in a variety of metabolic processes. Its main biological role is to participate in a key life process - DNA synthesis, that is, the formation and renewal of genetic material. This is why folic acid is so necessary for pregnant women - it is needed to build the structures of the child’s body.

The body has a huge population of cells that must constantly be renewed. These are red blood cells - the main formed elements of blood. The process of formation and, especially, maturation of red blood cells is also impossible without folic acid. If it is deficient, folate deficiency anemia may develop. This condition occurs in those who add few green vegetables to their diet, but it occurs especially quickly in people who abuse alcohol: alcohol interferes with the normal absorption of vitamin B9 - as, indeed, many others.

When is folic acid prescribed?

Folic acid supplements are recommended in cases where there is a deficiency in the body. Here are the main indications for its use:

- hypovitaminosis;

- anemia;

- pregnancy.

Each of these points needs clarification.

• Folic acid for hypovitaminosis

Therapeutic doses of this vitamin - namely, 5 mg (5 tablets) per day - can be taken only when hypovitaminosis is laboratory confirmed. There is a blood test for folate (folic acid compounds) that can be performed in any large laboratory; it helps determine whether there is a deficiency in the body or not.

The prophylactic dosage that healthy people are allowed to take to prevent this condition is 50 micrograms (not milligrams!) per day, which is 100 times less than the therapeutic dose. Of course, one cannot expect any toxic effects from this medicine, but there is also no need for useless treatment.

• Folic acid for anemia

There are several dozen types of anemia - hereditary and acquired, and folic acid is not prescribed in every case. It can be recommended for so-called megaloblastic anemia, when the number of red blood cells decreases, and their size and hemoglobin content increase. In this form, they perform their functions worse.

The symptoms of folate deficiency anemia differ little from other forms, so it also needs to be detected using a folate test. You can, of course, only conduct a general analysis, but it will reveal changes that can also occur with another type of anemia - B12 deficiency, which should be treated slightly differently.

Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, with blood tests checked every 10 days. The duration of the course is determined based on their results.

• Folic acid during pregnancy

It is mandatory prescribed to all pregnant women, but sometimes there is a feeling that doctors cannot “agree” among themselves what the dosage of this vitamin should be.

Studies have shown that taking folic acid during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of developmental abnormalities of the central nervous system in children. This feature was noted back in 1991 by Canadian scientists. Since then, similar tests have been carried out repeatedly, during which this was confirmed. Accordingly, the optimal doses of the medicine were determined, strictly prescribed depending on the situation.

What do we see in reality? Open the instructions for folic acid in the reference book - and you will see that it is recommended for pregnant women at a dose of 400 mcg (0.4 mg) per day. Go to the pharmacy, take a look at the composition of multivitamin complexes for expectant mothers - on most packages you will notice the number 800 mcg (0.8 mg). Contact your gynecologist and he will advise you to take 3 folic acid tablets a day. In the same antenatal clinic, another specialist may name a dose of 5 mg. Who to believe?

If a pregnant woman eats properly, and she has not previously had pregnancies in which sick children were born, a minimum dose will be enough - buy yourself a special multivitamin, for example, Elevit Prenatal or Materna, and don’t worry about anything. If your family already has children (or other blood relatives) with congenital brain disorders, and you have diabetes or are taking anticonvulsants due to epilepsy, you should choose a dosage of 3-5 mg.

When else is folic acid useful?

In some cases, for example, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other serious diseases, patients are treated with cytostatics - primarily methotrexate. This “heavy” drug has been shown to have fewer side effects when taken simultaneously with folic acid at a dose of 3 tablets per day. Other studies are also interesting: it is known that taking vitamin B9 prevents the development of gastrointestinal cancer.

There are practically no side effects with this remedy, except for extremely rare cases of allergies; Moreover, it has no contraindications. Doctors have never observed an overdose of folic acid, and while taking it, it doesn’t even matter how many times a day you take the tablets - the main thing is to follow the daily dose. Thus, folic acid, being an indispensable remedy in the presence of relevant problems, is as safe as possible and can be used without any fear. Hopefully, as scientists better study its anti-cancer activity, it will be used to treat tumors.

Author: Evgenia Sokolova (doctor)

PS: Please note that the research data was taken from the US National Library of Medicine section!

PS:

Rules for taking vitamins

To ensure maximum absorption of vitamin B9 and reduce the likelihood of side effects, medications should be taken as recommended. The instructions for use of folic acid describe how to take it correctly.

To reduce the irritating effect of tablets on the gastric mucosa, you need to take them after meals. Failure to comply with this rule can lead to increased stomach acidity, causing nausea and vomiting, especially during pregnancy. By taking the tablet with food, the patient reduces its absorption.

Folic acid interacts with some medications, so it should be taken at different times. Medicines that eliminate high stomach acidity can be taken only 2 hours after taking vitamin B9. This restriction applies to drugs containing magnesium, calcium, and aluminum.

Vitamin B9 does not combine well with cholisteramine. Folates are not compatible with neomycin, tertacycline, polymexine.

Foods rich in folic acid

Folic acid gets its name from the Latin word folium, meaning leaf. Because folic acid was first obtained from leafy greens.

The main sources of folic acid are green plants. These are spinach, wild garlic, parsley, lettuce, beans, lentils, beans, leeks, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green peas, avocado.

A significant amount of vitamin B9 is found in whole grain flour (with bran), cereals with an unrefined grain shell, and yeast.

Folic acid is present in liver, meat, fish, and hard cheese, but heat treatment of such products reduces its amount significantly.

It is better to eat vegetables and herbs raw or steam them to preserve their folic acid as much as possible.

If you infrequently consume the above products, then, of course, you should take additional folic acid in tablets or take vitamin-mineral complexes.

Drinking large amounts of tea negatively affects the absorption of folic acid. Moreover, tea accelerates its elimination from the body.

Dosage for prophylactic use

A person cannot stock up on nutrients for future use. An excess of them in the body will cause no less serious damage to health than a deficiency. Vitamin B9 is no exception. Therefore, the dosage of folic acid is determined by the doctor individually, taking into account the gender and age of the patient. The daily diet of an adult should contain from 2 to 5 mcg of this substance. To maintain health, it is enough to take the synthesized drug in a prophylactic, that is, in a minimum dosage.

The use of folic acid in tablet form is required in the treatment of various ailments, increased physical activity, during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dosage table:

Folic acid during pregnancy: reviews

Meet folic acid

Packaging Folic acid

Folic acid, also known as folate, folacin, vitamin B9, vitamin M, pteroylglutamic acid, is one of the vital water-soluble vitamins. The human body is not able to synthesize folic acid on its own.

It can be produced in very small quantities by bacteria that inhabit the large intestine. But this amount is not enough to cover the body’s daily need for folic acid. That is why this vitamin must come from the outside; for this purpose it is synthesized for medical purposes. And the legislation of some countries requires that baked goods be fortified with folic acid. The richest sources of folic acid are the liver of birds and animals, yeast, sunflower seeds, various spices (parsley, basil, rosemary), greens (spinach, cabbage), soybeans, beans, peanuts, asparagus.

Why do we need folic acid?

For the full intrauterine development of the fetus, a sufficient concentration of folic acid in the body of the expectant mother is very important. A considerable number of scientific studies prove that this vitamin has a protective effect against the development of neural tube defects in the fetus (anencephaly, spina bifida, etc.).

Folic acid plays a vital role in the process of DNA duplication, without which cell division is not possible. In other words, folic acid is necessary for the development and growth of tissues and organs, as well as for the formation of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The male body needs folic acid, along with other microelements, for the formation of healthy sperm. This fact must be taken into account at the pregnancy planning stage. Among other things, folic acid takes part in the metabolism of adrenaline and serotonin. Due to the fact that folic acid ensures the metabolism of methionine, it contributes to our good mood, affects the nervous system, improves appetite, and also takes part in the synthesis of hydrochloric acid.

What does a lack of folic acid lead to?

First of all, you need to pay attention to what causes a lack of folic acid:

• insufficient intake of vitamin from food. It should be noted that during heat treatment, almost 90% of the acid contained in products is destroyed;
• increased individual body need for folic acid. Most often this is due to accelerated growth of the body, for example, in children; the need for this vitamin also increases during and after serious illnesses;
• impaired absorption of folic acid in the intestines due to impaired microflora or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disruption of folic acid synthesis in the body;
• increased removal of folic acid from the body (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.).

Symptoms of folic acid deficiency are weakness, fatigue, memory loss, loss of appetite, headache, leg pain, anemia, depression, toxicosis during pregnancy.

Lack of folic acid during pregnancy can cause a number of undesirable consequences:

• placental abruption (partial or complete);
• stillbirth;
• spontaneous miscarriage;
• miscarriage;
• congenital malformations of the fetus: neural tube defects, cleft lip, cleft palate, heart defects, etc.;
• impaired mental development of the child.

In addition, a lack of folic acid increases the risk of developing postpartum depression, apathy, weakness, and reduces lactation. And its reduced content in breast milk leads to a deficiency of this vitamin in the child’s body, which results in disruption of intestinal function, weight loss, decreased immunity and delayed psychomotor development.

When and how to take

The daily requirements for folic acid for various categories are as follows:

• adult without signs of folic acid deficiency – 300-400 mcg;
• dosage of folic acid during pregnancy – 400-500 mcg;
• pregnant women with a history of stillbirths, miscarriages, birth of children with folate-dependent defects - 5 mg; • nursing mothers – 500-600 mcg;
• children under one year old – 40-60 mcg.

Folic acid is available in tablets and is also included in complex prenatal vitamins. Usually, taking one tablet per day is sufficient. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe two appointments per day. If a woman takes prenatal vitamins, there is no need to take folic acid separately. For better absorption, it is recommended to take folic acid with vitamins B12 and C. The tablet is taken after meals with water.

How long to take folic acid?

In order to achieve the required level of folic acid in the body and maintain it, a woman needs to take it for three months before conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy. And because planning a pregnancy is a very difficult stage, which is not always successful, continuous intake of folic acid is very important.

Starting around the 12th week of pregnancy, many women begin taking a vitamin complex that already includes folic acid. From now on, taking folic acid separately is justified only by strict indications.

Folic acid at the planning stage

If a married couple consciously approaches the issue of conceiving a child, then before the desired pregnancy they must undergo all the necessary examinations.

This will allow the specialist to identify the presence of any diseases or disorders in the parents and correct them. During preparation for pregnancy, folic acid plays a very important role, so it must be supplied to the body along with other microelements and vitamins. Folic acid is prescribed for 2-3 months before planned conception for both women and men. The couple needs to stop smoking, since folic acid is destroyed under the influence of nicotinic acid.

The ideal option is to obtain folic acid through the foods you eat. But, alas, this is not always possible and is not always sufficient. In such cases, folic acid tablets come to the rescue. The doctor should explain to you in great detail the dosage and frequency of administration. An excess of folic acid in the body causes hypervitaminosis and can also lead to undesirable consequences. The tablets can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription at an affordable price. In this case, the price is the health of your unborn baby.

When should you not take folic acid?

Like any drug, folic acid has contraindications. According to the instructions, these include:

• individual intolerance to the drug;
• various allergic manifestations to the drug.

It should also be noted that it is not recommended to take folic acid while taking cytostatics, antibiotics, painkillers, sulfonamides, anticonvulsants, and drugs aimed at reducing gastric secretion.

What foods contain folic acid?

Like any micronutrient, folic acid is found in some foods. These include:

• cheese;
• cottage cheese;
• meat fish;
• liver;
• mushrooms;
• oat and buckwheat porridge;
• lettuce, parsley, onion;
• all types of cabbage;
• green pea;
• strawberry.

Fresh homemade milk, unlike sterilized or pasteurized milk, contains a lot of folic acid.

It should be noted that the listed products should not be subjected to heat treatment, since folic acid is destroyed under the influence of temperature.

Overdose: symptoms and treatment

Considering that folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, overdose is very rare because water-soluble vitamins are excreted in the urine. But we still cannot discount the possibility of folate overdose, especially in women who take large doses of folic acid for a long time, especially during pregnancy. Symptoms of excess folic acid in the body are:

• metallic or bitter taste in the mouth;
• changes in behavior and mood (hyperactivity, irritability, excitability);
• from the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain;
• allergic manifestations in the form of a rash;
• strange or unusual dreams;
• in patients with epilepsy - an increase in seizures.

Often, excess folic acid in the body masks the presence of symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. This happens because folic acid can treat signs of anemia without repairing damaged nerves. By taking too much folic acid, you increase the risk of heart attack and coronary insufficiency. If you suspect an overdose of folic acid, you should immediately consult a doctor. For the most part, symptoms are fairly easy to relieve.

If necessary, patients are given intravenous infusions to restore fluid balance, and symptomatic treatment is also prescribed. To avoid such situations, be sure to read the instructions before use. Do not exceed the dosage norm; if the norm is observed, no side effects are observed. Remember that taking medications does not replace a balanced diet. On the contrary, proper nutrition can help reduce the need to take folic acid. In general, women who took folic acid during preparation and during pregnancy leave only positive reviews about it.

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Taking folic acid for medicinal purposes

Folates are prescribed not only for the purpose of prevention, but also for the treatment of many pathologies.

For example, they are used as part of complex therapy:

• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• anemia;
• psoriasis and other skin diseases;
• Down's disease;
• Alzheimer's disease;
• scurvy;
• periodontal disease;
• schizophrenia and bipolar disorder;
• depressive states.

Your doctor will tell you how to take folic acid and what is its method of use. The dosage of the drug depends on the pathology and characteristics of the patient’s body and ranges from 4 to 20 mcg per day. Self-medication is dangerous to health!

How much folic acid to take when planning pregnancy - optimal dosages

The dose of folic acid in preparation for conception is selected individually. If the expectant mother is healthy and has no history of miscarriages or stillborn children, then the doctor usually prescribes her to take 400 mcg of the vitamin per day throughout the first trimester. If a woman has children who have been diagnosed with a neural tube anomaly, have had miscarriages or cases of stillborn children, she is recommended to take an increased dose of folic acid - 1-4 mg per day.

Taking vitamin B9 by a pregnant woman

In a situation where the patient is taking medications that accelerate the excretion of vitamin B9 from the body or impair its absorption (medicines containing alcohol, aspirin, glucocorticoids, tablets for tuberculosis, etc.), when planning pregnancy, she needs to take 0.8-4 daily mg of this component. Moreover, if these medications are taken throughout the entire nine months, then folic acid should be present as an adjuvant until childbirth.

Taking the drug when planning and bearing a child

Folate deficiency in a woman’s body can lead to serious problems with conceiving and carrying a baby. This condition provokes spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, and egg abnormalities. This necessitates the need to take synthetic supplements containing vitamin B9 several months before expected conception. Read more about the role of folic acid in planning pregnancy →

How to take folic acid will be prescribed by the attending doctor, taking into account the age and health status of the patient. The dosage can range from 2 to 4 mcg per day. The doctor will determine how much folic acid to take over time. Usually the pills are started 4 weeks before the planned pregnancy.

This substance takes an active part in the formation and functioning of the child’s nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain. Its lack during fetal maturation can cause hydrocephalus, cleft lip, anecephaly, pathologies of heart development, and spina bifida. Vitamin B9, used prophylactically, can reduce the likelihood of developing such complications. Expectant mothers are recommended to eat foods rich in folates and take tablets in a dose of up to 8 mcg per day. Folic acid during pregnancy is taken throughout the first trimester.

Food Sources of Folic Acid

The largest amount of folic acid is found in plant-based foods.

Normal intestinal functioning and stimulation of bacteria involved in the synthesis of folic acid can be ensured by a lactic acid diet .

Folic acid dosage for men

Vitamin B9 deficiency causes deterioration in the health of not only women, but also men.

A lack of it can lead to:

• decreased sperm motility;
• reducing the quality of sperm and, consequently, the likelihood of conception;
• increasing the likelihood of genetic pathologies in a child.

The average preventive dose for a future father is 2-4 mcg per day, but the dosage of the drug needs to be clarified by a doctor.

In adolescents, as a result of a deficiency of this substance, hormonal disorders and delayed puberty may develop. As a result, growth slows down, memory deteriorates, and appetite is impaired. If such signs appear, you should consult a doctor who will conduct an examination. If it is determined that the cause of the disorder is folic acid, or rather its deficiency, the doctor will determine the required dosage and tell you how to take it.

Dose of folic acid for pregnant women

The preventive dose of folic acid during pregnancy planning and during the first trimester is 400 mcg per day. Otherwise – 0.4 mg.

Only a special group of expectant mothers (women at risk) are prescribed large doses of folic acid - 800-1000 mcg per day.

The risk group for having a child with congenital anomalies includes women who:

• there was a history of pregnancy that ended in the birth of a child with a pathology of the nervous system or other developmental defects, or fetal death;
• there are cases of hereditary diseases in the family (even among family members of a distant degree of kinship);
• there are serious diseases - diabetes mellitus, megaloblastic anemia, epilepsy, metabolic diseases, peptic ulcer disease, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases, severe toxicosis.

In the diseases listed above, the processes of absorption and breakdown of folic acid are disrupted.

And also medications used for such diseases (anticonvulsants, antacids, cytostatics, etc.) impair the absorption of folic acid.

A doctor observing a pregnant woman at risk can adjust the dose of folic acid based on the results of the examination. In some cases, it may be necessary to increase the dose to 2-3 mg of folic acid per day.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that most folic acid preparations contain 1 mg of the substance in one tablet. Therefore, if you are not at risk, you will have to divide the tablet. Or you need to choose a drug that contains a dose that is right for you.

The tablets should be taken orally after meals. It is also acceptable to take folic acid with meals if a woman feels nauseous after taking the pill after a meal.

Taking medications to combat excess weight

As one of the means in a comprehensive fight against excess weight, nutritionists recommend taking vitamin B9 in additional dosage. This will bring the expected effect provided proper nutrition and regular physical activity. The substance helps improve metabolism and rapid breakdown of fat. In this case, the need for additional folic acid supplements and the method of taking it should be clarified by a nutritionist. Uncontrolled use of this product can be harmful to health.

What is folic acid

Folic acid or vitamin B9 is an essential element for healthy hematopoietic processes in the bone marrow. Also, without it, protein synthesis is impossible. With a deficiency of this vitamin, macrocytic anemia occurs - a blood disorder in which there is an increase in the size of red blood cells. Then the patient complains of tinnitus, shortness of breath, increased fatigue and increased heart rate.

Folic acid:

• participates in the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow (activates the work of enzymes that contribute to the normal course of biochemical reactions, resulting in the formation of mature red blood cells);
• necessary for DNA synthesis;
• ensures cell division of internal organs and tissues (it is thanks to vitamin B9 that tissues are renewed, which can be visually noticed by the rapid healing of wounds and abrasions);
• helps the normal development of the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy, when vital organs are formed and the central nervous system is formed;
• improves the production of the hormone of joy, which is called serotonin (therefore, with an acute deficiency of the vitamin, a person becomes irritable, nervous, and may fall into a state of depression).

Folic acid is a safe drug

Folic acid not only comes with food, but is also produced by the small intestine’s own microflora in the upper third of it. After entering the blood, it is transformed into a free form, and then freely enters the bone marrow, liver and other organs and tissues.

In most cases, folic acid is produced by intestinal microflora in the amount that a person needs. Therefore, even with insufficient dietary intake, symptoms of deficiency do not occur.

Vitamin B9 to improve hair condition

If hair problems are caused by a deficiency of this element, to speed up recovery it is recommended to take it orally in tablets and, in addition, add the solution to shampoo, conditioner and masks. You can dilute an ampoule of the product in a jar of shampoo or add a few drops in portions immediately before use. The duration of folic acid therapy for hair depends on the severity of the problem. For example, if they fall out, it will take several months before treatment results appear. But they will become alive and shiny after a month of regular care.

Folic acid is essential for health. Its deficiency leads to disastrous consequences. However, uncontrolled use of the drug and incorrect dosage are harmful to the body. Only a doctor can prescribe this medication. He must explain to the patient how to drink it correctly.

The use of vitamin B9 for cosmetic purposes

In cosmetology, this acid is widely used in regenerating and soothing products; it also has a positive effect on hair, namely, it strengthens and heals it and prevents early baldness and gray hair.

Folic acid for hair

Liquid folic acid from ampoules is used for hair; it is not used in its pure form, but as an addition to masks, shampoos, and balms.

Recipe: add a few drops of vitamin B9 to burdock oil, apply to hair and wrap, wait 30-40 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo adding one drop of this acid.

This vitamin is found in large quantities in food. Therefore, they can be used with great success in masks and hair wraps.

Recipe: a wonderful mask for dry and lifeless hair consists of avocado pulp (contains B9), yolk (also contains B9) and olive oil, you can add 2-3 drops of lemon juice. Apply the mask for 30 minutes.

Honey also contains a lot of folic acid, so honey rubs and masks with its addition will come in handy for those with thick hair .

Vitamin B9 is simply necessary for the synthesis of nucleic acids, which transmit hereditary information, and therefore is indispensable for the processes of growth and regeneration of body cells, including hair.

In addition, this vitamin gives us a wonderful optimistic mood and confidence , and this can already make a woman beautiful and healthy.

Folic acid for weight loss

The use of vitamin B9 in its pure form, as part of a vitamin complex or in food products makes it possible to significantly increase the rate of metabolic processes in the body and the burning of the so-called fat depot. When exposed to folic acid, internal fat breaks down into simple alcohols and fatty acids , which are removed from the body by the excretory system.

Products containing vitamin B9

Folic acid does not tolerate high temperatures. When heated to 90% of folacin, it is completely destroyed, so you can only get this useful vitamin from raw foods.

If the diet of future parents consists mainly of cooked food, then the lack of vitamin B9 simply needs to be compensated for by taking pharmaceuticals containing this substance.

The effect of folic acid on conception

Taking folic acid when planning pregnancy is indicated for both men and women. It performs a number of functions:

• improves protein metabolism in the body;
• participates in cell division processes;
• helps increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
• improves appetite;
• participates in the transmission of DNA and RNA;
• reduces the level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which contribute to the development of atherosclerosis;
• reduces the manifestations of intoxication in food poisoning;
• strengthens the immune system;
• inhibits inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, improves liver function;
• participates in the absorption of other vitamins necessary for the normal development of the child.

Taking folic acid before pregnancy is beneficial by preventing the following pregnancy complications:

• placental abruption;
• frozen pregnancy;
• early spontaneous abortion;
• neural tube defects in the fetus;
• disorders of the fetal brain structure;
• fetal hypoxia caused by anemia.

When planning pregnancy, men are also prescribed vitamins with folic acid. Folates are beneficial by increasing the quality and viability of sperm and improving their motility. Therefore, in case of poor spermogram results, men are also prescribed B9.

The effects of folic acid before conception are described in detail in the video below:

How and when to take folic acid

Already in the first month of pregnancy, many organs of the unborn child are formed. Just the defects mentioned above arise from the first days of embryo development and can form throughout the entire first month of pregnancy. Often, women during this period do not even suspect that they are pregnant, and even more so, do not take any vitamin complexes, in particular B vitamins. Meanwhile, for the normal development of the baby, it is extremely important to receive folic acid in sufficient quantities already in the very first days after pregnancy. days of conception. Immediately upon the onset of pregnancy, the body has a great need for foline. After all, folic acid also plays a very important role in the formation of a healthy placenta.

So we come to the conclusion that it is very important to provide the body with folic acid long before pregnancy. This vitamin does not have a cumulative property, that is, we constantly need it. Therefore, preventive dosages of B9 are recommended to be taken by all women of childbearing age constantly (we are talking about natural organic, not synthetic vitamins).

Keep in mind that not only the expectant mother needs to take this remedy, but also the future dad. After all, a lack of foline in the male body negatively affects the condition of sperm, in particular their motility.

When planning pregnancy, folic acid is usually prescribed approximately 3 months before the desired sexual intercourse. Doctors consider this period sufficient to compensate for the folacin deficiency that exists in almost everyone. But the dosages will have to be dealt with in each individual case separately.