28/06/2023
Planning a pregnancy? - Think about folic acid
Folic acid, a B vitamin, is one of the most important nutrients for pregnant women The supply of folic acid in the first weeks of pregnancy is particularly important for the child's well-being.
Since many women are not optimally supplied with folic acid - according to the National Nutrition Survey II (2008), 86% of non-pregnant women do not reach the recommended folate intake - you should start taking folic acid as soon as you are planning a pregnancy. Women who used hormonal contraception before pregnancy are at increased risk of folic acid deficiency because hormone preparations ("the pill"), depending on their composition, hinder the absorption of folic acid.
Folic acid contributes to the growth of maternal tissue during pregnancy and to normal mental function. It also plays a role in cell division.
Folic acid supply during pregnancy
The water-soluble vitamin is contained in various vegetables such as beans, tomatoes, spinach and broccolias well as in dairy products, liver, egg yolk, wheat germ and wholemeal products. If you make sure your diet is rich in folic acid, you should also keep an eye on the storage and preparation of your food. High temperatures, light and oxygen can destroy the sensitive vitamin, meaning that significant folic acid losses can occur, particularly during cooking and prolonged storage.
When pregnancy begins, the folic acid requirement increases by 83 per cent - from 300 μg to 550 μg. A low folate level in pregnant women is a risk factor for the development of neural tube defects (such as an open spine) in the growing foetus. As it is difficult for pregnant women to ensure an adequate supply of folic acid through their diet alone, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends that women who want to or could become pregnant take folic acid supplements in addition to a folate-rich diet. You can increase your folic acid levels and reduce the risk of a neural tube defect with a supplementary intake of 400 μg folic acid daily for at least one month before and up to three months after conception.
The folic acid requirements of pregnant women are already covered with one capsule of Vit. B complex plus per day. Another plus point: the folic acid it contains is more stable than the folates found naturally in food and can be almost completely utilised by the body.