About Folic Acid

Folic acid, or also known as vitamin B9 is one of the few nutrients known to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Why do pregnant women need folic acid? Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women, based on biased research caused birth defects in babies. The baby had defects in the brain and spinal cord. Folic acid deficiency causes the baby is born with cleft bibr, low-weight babies, Down syndrome and recurrent miscarriage. Another abnormality is impaired infants and small bowel, the child could not walk upright and high emotion. In girls as adults do not experience menstruation. 

In pregnant women folic acid deficiency causes an increased risk of maternal anemia so easily tired, tired, lethargic and pale. An estimated half of all birth defects can be prevented if pregnant women consume folic acid with the correct amount, whether through foods containing folic acid or through supplements. Is disability due to deficiency of folic acid? Usually severe disorder that occurs in newborns due to folic acid deficiency during pregnancy is known in medicine as a Neutral tube defects / NTD / neural tube abnormalities. Disorder is the result of neural tube closure does not occur at the top (Meningokel) or the lower end (spina bifida) in the third or fourth week or the fourth (day 16 until day 28) after conception. 

How big is the incidence of NTD? The incidence and recurrence risk for NTD empirical figures vary from 7.5 to 11.6 per 10 000 live births. In Indonesia there is no data for how the prevalence of spinal cord abnormalities pekit. For NTD recurrence prevention, in clinical studies involving 1195 high-risk pregnant women from 33 research centers, reported a 72% lower NTD cases among children in the group given folic acid than those who were not given folic acid. Recurrence rate decreased from 3.5% to 1% in women who were randomly assigned to 4 mg of folic acid before pregnancy and during the first six weeks of pregnancy. Results in the group using the vitamins without folic acid is similar to the results of the group who did not use vitamins with risk of recurrence of 3.5%. 

Because of the importance of this one substance, folic acid requirements for pregnant women should be prepared since before becoming pregnant. If starting at one month prior to pregnancy and the first three months of pregnancy will reduce the burden of the risk of babies born to the NTD of more than 70 per cent. 

To get folic acid, pregnant women should consume foods containing folic acid in sufficient quantities. Beef liver, broccoli, oranges and spinach in addition to bread and milk. Needs folic acid for pregnant women of childbearing age and 400 mcg / day or equal to two glasses of milk. 

How high risk women experiencing complications of pregnancy with NTD? This group includes women who never had children or a fetus with NTD, an insulin-dependent diabetes (type I), epilepsy and the use of acid to mengatsai carbamazepin valporik or convulsions and mothers who used folic acid antagonists (Amniopterin, metotrexate). Recommended dosage of folic acid with 0.4 to 1.0 mg did not provide the harmful effects in the developing fetus or the mother who conceived him. Folic acid can dissolve in water and the excess will be excreted through urine. The impact of excessive use of folic acid (over 1 mg) is unknown, but may cover the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency. Folic acid rarely have an allergic response, but the reaction may be erythema, rash, itching-Gata;, malaise and broncschospasm / sense of choking.  When assessed folic acid intake through foods is inadequate, usually an obstetrician or midwife where the mother consulted will prescribe additional folic acid supplementation either through diet or supplement proven to reduce or minimize certain birth defects. Dose of folic acid should be adjusted based on patients needs and history.