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Why is folate important?
Penny found 20 sources
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8 peer-reviewed research articles
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4 articles from healthcare institutions
Overview
Folate (vitamin B9) is essential during pregnancy because it helps prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine, supports healthy cell growth, and plays a key role in making DNA and red blood cells. Folate is especially important in early pregnancy, often before a person even knows they are pregnant.
Why Folate Is Important
Neural Tube Defect Prevention
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Folate is critical for the development of the neural tube, which becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord. Not getting enough folate before and during early pregnancy can lead to neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Taking folic acid (the synthetic form of folate) before conception and during the first trimester can reduce the risk of NTDs by 50% or more.
About Folic Acid | Folic Acid | CDCIt helps your body make new cells (for example, blood cells, brain cells, skin, hair, and nails). Every new cell in the body needs folate. Folic acid is especially important during early pregnancy, because it helps the neural tube—which becomes the brain and spine—develop.Folic Acid for a Healthy Baby | Johns Hopkins MedicineThe developing baby needs folate to make healthy new cells, and to make DNA and RNA (genetic material). These are cell-building blocks. Folate also is essential to form normal red blood cells and certain amino acids. These are important functions during pregnancy and infancy.What Does Folic Acid Do for the Body? | Northwestern MedicineFolic acid is vital for a baby's health. Without enough folic acid, the neural tube may not develop properly, resulting in spina bifida or other birth defects.Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics - PubMedThe American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microgram of folicacid daily to preventneuraltubedefects (NTDs). Studies have demonstrated that periconceptional folicacid supplementation ...Read full articleSource: PubMedIntroduction - Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: A Limited Systematic Review Update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - NCBI BookshelfHigh levels of folic acid supplementation (4 mg) have been found to reduce the risk of recurrent NTDs by more than 70 percent, and even more modest levels of folic acid supplementation (0.4 mg) reduce the first occurrence of NTDs.22 The mechanism by which folate reduces the risk of NTDs is ...
Healthy Cell Growth and DNA Formation
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Folate is needed for the production and repair of DNA and RNA, which are the building blocks of cells. This is especially important during pregnancy, when cells are dividing rapidly to form new tissues and organs in the developing baby.
Folic Acid for a Healthy Baby | Johns Hopkins MedicineThe developing baby needs folate to make healthy new cells, and to make DNA and RNA (genetic material). These are cell-building blocks. Folate also is essential to form normal red blood cells and certain amino acids. These are important functions during pregnancy and infancy.Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMCDietary supplementation with folic acid around the time of conception has long been known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the offspring.1–4 This article reviews the metabolism of folic acid, the appropriate use of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, and the potential ...Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralWhat Does Folic Acid Do for the Body? | Northwestern MedicineFolic acid is vital for a baby's health. Without enough folic acid, the neural tube may not develop properly, resulting in spina bifida or other birth defects.Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMCFolate (vitamin B[9] ) is an essential nutrient that is required for DNA replication and as a substrate for a range of enzymatic reactions involved in amino acid synthesis and vitamin metabolism. Demands for folate increase during pregnancy because it ...
Red Blood Cell Production and Prevention of Anemia
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Folate helps the body make normal red blood cells. A deficiency can lead to folate-deficiency anemia, which can cause fatigue, weakness, and other health problems for the pregnant individual.
Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMCDietary supplementation with folic acid around the time of conception has long been known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the offspring.1–4 This article reviews the metabolism of folic acid, the appropriate use of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, and the potential ...Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralFolic acid | Office on Women's HealthFolic acid is a form of folate (a B vitamin) that everyone needs. If you can get pregnant or are pregnant, folic acid is especially important.Folate Deficiency and Pregnancy | Annals of Internal MedicineExcerpt The recommendation of Lawrence and Klipstein, in their paper in this issue of the ANNALS, that folic acid be given routinely to all pregnant women is supported by data reported recently by Lowenstein, Cantlie, Ramos, and Brunton (1) from Montreal. Of nonanemic pregnant women treated ...Read full articleSource: acpjournals.org
Other Pregnancy Outcomes
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Adequate folate intake is linked to a lower risk of other complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational age infants.
The Critical Role of Folate in Prenatal Health and a Proposed Shift from Folic Acid to 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation | Published in Georgetown Medical ReviewFolate deficiency can also lead to other complications such as preterm birth (birth at less than 37 weeks’ gestation) and small for gestational age (infants and fetuses at <10th percentile in weight at their respective gestational age).20 These adverse pregnancy outcomes underline the importance of maternal folic acid supplementation not only for the health ...Effect of folate intake on health outcomes in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis on birth weight, placental weight and length of gestation - PMCMaternal folate is transferred ... status during pregnancy may be a risk factor of several adverse health outcomes, such as fetal malformations and various placenta-related diseases [41]. Moreover, low folate status results in elevated plasma homocysteine level, which may ...Read full articleSource: PubMed Central
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Folate also supports normal immune function and may play a role in the timing of labor.
Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMCDietary supplementation with folic acid around the time of conception has long been known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the offspring.1–4 This article reviews the metabolism of folic acid, the appropriate use of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, and the potential ...Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralFolic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMCFolate (vitamin B[9] ) is an essential nutrient that is required for DNA replication and as a substrate for a range of enzymatic reactions involved in amino acid synthesis and vitamin metabolism. Demands for folate increase during pregnancy because it ...
How Much Folate Is Needed?
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Most guidelines recommend that people who are pregnant or may become pregnant take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily, starting at least one month before conception and continuing through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some guidelines suggest continuing folate supplementation throughout pregnancy.
About Folic Acid | Folic Acid | CDCIt helps your body make new cells (for example, blood cells, brain cells, skin, hair, and nails). Every new cell in the body needs folate. Folic acid is especially important during early pregnancy, because it helps the neural tube—which becomes the brain and spine—develop.Nutrition During Pregnancy | ACOGDuring pregnancy you need folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. See the below table for recommended amounts. ... Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that is importantduringpregnancy.Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics - PubMedThe American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microgram of folicacid daily to preventneuraltubedefects (NTDs). Studies have demonstrated that periconceptional folicacid supplementation ...Read full articleSource: PubMedVitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy - NHSFolic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. If you did not take folic acid before you conceived, you should start as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Try to eat green leafy vegetables which contain folate (the natural form of folic acid) ...Read full articleSource: nhs.ukPericonceptional folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defectsAll women, from the moment they begin trying to conceive until 12 weeks of gestation, should take a folic acid supplement (400 μg folic acid daily). Women who have had a fetus diagnosed as affected by a neural tube defect or have given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect should: ... ...Read full articleSource: who.int
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Because it can be difficult to get enough folate from food alone, a supplement is usually recommended.
What Does Folic Acid Do for the Body? | Northwestern MedicineFolic acid is vital for a baby's health. Without enough folic acid, the neural tube may not develop properly, resulting in spina bifida or other birth defects.Vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy - NHSFolic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. If you did not take folic acid before you conceived, you should start as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Try to eat green leafy vegetables which contain folate (the natural form of folic acid) ...Read full articleSource: nhs.uk
What Happens If You Don’t Get Enough Folate?
- Folate deficiency during pregnancy can lead to:
- Neural tube defects in the baby
- Anemia in the pregnant individual
- Increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight
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Potential developmental and neurocognitive issues in the child
Folic Acid for a Healthy Baby | Johns Hopkins MedicineThe developing baby needs folate to make healthy new cells, and to make DNA and RNA (genetic material). These are cell-building blocks. Folate also is essential to form normal red blood cells and certain amino acids. These are important functions during pregnancy and infancy.Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMCDietary supplementation with folic acid around the time of conception has long been known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the offspring.1–4 This article reviews the metabolism of folic acid, the appropriate use of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, and the potential ...Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralThe Critical Role of Folate in Prenatal Health and a Proposed Shift from Folic Acid to 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation | Published in Georgetown Medical ReviewFolate deficiency can also lead to other complications such as preterm birth (birth at less than 37 weeks’ gestation) and small for gestational age (infants and fetuses at <10th percentile in weight at their respective gestational age).20 These adverse pregnancy outcomes underline the importance of maternal folic acid supplementation not only for the health ...Effect of folate intake on health outcomes in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis on birth weight, placental weight and length of gestation - PMCMaternal folate is transferred ... status during pregnancy may be a risk factor of several adverse health outcomes, such as fetal malformations and various placenta-related diseases [41]. Moreover, low folate status results in elevated plasma homocysteine level, which may ...Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralEffects of maternal folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on neurocognitive development in the child: an 11-year follow-up from a randomised controlled trial | BMC Medicine | Full TextA major limitation in the aforementioned studies is that they are observational and thus, by design, cannot demonstrate that maternalfolate nutrition is causatively linked with cognitive outcomes in the offspring [6]. More robust evidence was however provided in our recent follow-up study ...
Can You Get Too Much Folate?
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While folate from food is not harmful, taking too much folic acid from supplements can mask vitamin B12 deficiency and may have other risks. Most guidelines recommend not exceeding 1,000 mcg of folic acid per day unless prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Folic acid | Office on Women's HealthFolic acid is a form of folate (a B vitamin) that everyone needs. If you can get pregnant or are pregnant, folic acid is especially important.Too Much Folate in Pregnant Women Increases Risk for Autism, Study Suggests | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public HealthWe must aim for optimal levels of this important nutrient.” · Folate is essential in cell growth and promotes neurodevelopmental growth. Deficiencies early in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects and to an increased risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder.Why every woman needs folic acid | UCLA HealthBut the health advantages of folic acid reach far beyond pregnancy – this supplement offers lifelong benefits for all women. The good news is that folic acid is easy to add to your daily regimen. Once you understand why it’s important, how much you need and where to find it, getting the recommended daily amount is simple. And your health will be better for it. Folic acid is the manufactured form of folate...Read full articleSource: UCLA Health
Summary
Folate is crucial for a healthy pregnancy, especially in the early weeks. It helps prevent neural tube defects, supports cell growth, and reduces the risk of anemia and other complications. Because many pregnancies are unplanned and the neural tube forms very early, it’s recommended to start folic acid supplementation before conception and continue through at least the first trimester. Getting enough folate is one of the most effective ways to support your health and your baby’s development during pregnancy.
About Folic Acid | Folic Acid | CDC
It helps your body make new cells (for example, blood cells, brain cells, skin, hair, and nails). Every new cell in the body needs folate. Folic acid is especially important during early pregnancy, because it helps the neural tube—which becomes the brain and spine—develop.
Folic Acid for a Healthy Baby | Johns Hopkins Medicine
The developing baby needs folate to make healthy new cells, and to make DNA and RNA (genetic material). These are cell-building blocks. Folate also is essential to form normal red blood cells and certain amino acids. These are important functions during pregnancy and infancy.
What Does Folic Acid Do for the Body? | Northwestern Medicine
Folic acid is vital for a baby's health. Without enough folic acid, the neural tube may not develop properly, resulting in spina bifida or other birth defects.
Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics - PubMed
The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microgram of folicacid daily to preventneuraltubedefects (NTDs). Studies have demonstrated that periconceptional folicacid supplementation ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
Introduction - Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: A Limited Systematic Review Update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - NCBI Bookshelf
High levels of folic acid supplementation (4 mg) have been found to reduce the risk of recurrent NTDs by more than 70 percent, and even more modest levels of folic acid supplementation (0.4 mg) reduce the first occurrence of NTDs.22 The mechanism by which folate reduces the risk of NTDs is ...
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Peer-Reviewed Research
Published, peer-reviewed scientific studies from journals or databases.
4
Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics - PubMed
The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microgram of folicacid daily to preventneuraltubedefects (NTDs). Studies have demonstrated that periconceptional folicacid supplementation ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
5
Introduction - Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: A Limited Systematic Review Update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - NCBI Bookshelf
High levels of folic acid supplementation (4 mg) have been found to reduce the risk of recurrent NTDs by more than 70 percent, and even more modest levels of folic acid supplementation (0.4 mg) reduce the first occurrence of NTDs.22 The mechanism by which folate reduces the risk of NTDs is ...
6
Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMC
Dietary supplementation with folic acid around the time of conception has long been known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the offspring.1–4 This article reviews the metabolism of folic acid, the appropriate use of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, and the potential ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed Central
7
Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - PMC
Folate (vitamin B[9] ) is an essential nutrient that is required for DNA replication and as a substrate for a range of enzymatic reactions involved in amino acid synthesis and vitamin metabolism. Demands for folate increase during pregnancy because it ...
9
Folate Deficiency and Pregnancy | Annals of Internal Medicine
Excerpt The recommendation of Lawrence and Klipstein, in their paper in this issue of the ANNALS, that folic acid be given routinely to all pregnant women is supported by data reported recently by Lowenstein, Cantlie, Ramos, and Brunton (1) from Montreal. Of nonanemic pregnant women treated ...
Read full article
Source:
acpjournals.org
Folic acid: influence on the outcome of pregnancy - PubMed
Perinatal folate supply: relevance in healthoutcome parameters. Fekete K, Berti C, Cetin I, Hermoso M, Koletzko BV, Decsi T. Fekete K, et al. Matern Child Nutr. 2010 Oct;6 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):23-38. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2010.00261.x. Matern Child Nutr. 2010. PMID: 22296249 Free PMC article.
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
10
The Critical Role of Folate in Prenatal Health and a Proposed Shift from Folic Acid to 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation | Published in Georgetown Medical Review
Folate deficiency can also lead to other complications such as preterm birth (birth at less than 37 weeks’ gestation) and small for gestational age (infants and fetuses at <10th percentile in weight at their respective gestational age).20 These adverse pregnancy outcomes underline the importance of maternal folic acid supplementation not only for the health ...
Frontiers | Association Between Folate and Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses
Feng Y, Wang S, Chen R, Tong X, Wu Z, Mo X. Maternal folic acid supplementation and the risk of congenital heart defects in offspring: a meta-analysis of epidemiological observational studies. Sci Rep. (2015) 5:8506. doi: 10.1038/srep08506 · PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar · 24. Gilbody S, Lightfoot T, Sheldon T. Is low folate a risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity. J Epidemiol Commun Health...
Read full article
Source:
Frontiers
11
Effect of folate intake on health outcomes in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis on birth weight, placental weight and length of gestation - PMC
Maternal folate is transferred ... status during pregnancy may be a risk factor of several adverse health outcomes, such as fetal malformations and various placenta-related diseases [41]. Moreover, low folate status results in elevated plasma homocysteine level, which may ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed Central
15
Effects of maternal folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on neurocognitive development in the child: an 11-year follow-up from a randomised controlled trial | BMC Medicine | Full Text
A major limitation in the aforementioned studies is that they are observational and thus, by design, cannot demonstrate that maternalfolate nutrition is causatively linked with cognitive outcomes in the offspring [6]. More robust evidence was however provided in our recent follow-up study ...
Neural Tube Defects, Folic Acid and Methylation - PMC
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common complex congenital malformations resulting from failure of the neural tube closure during embryogenesis. It is established that folic acid supplementation decreases the prevalence of NTDs, which has led to ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed Central
Clinical Guidelines & Professional Sources
Clinical recommendations from government, public health organizations, or professional medical provider associations.
1
About Folic Acid | Folic Acid | CDC
It helps your body make new cells (for example, blood cells, brain cells, skin, hair, and nails). Every new cell in the body needs folate. Folic acid is especially important during early pregnancy, because it helps the neural tube—which becomes the brain and spine—develop.
8
Folic acid | Office on Women's Health
Folic acid is a form of folate (a B vitamin) that everyone needs. If you can get pregnant or are pregnant, folic acid is especially important.
12
Nutrition During Pregnancy | ACOG
During pregnancy you need folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. See the below table for recommended amounts. ... Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that is importantduringpregnancy.
13
Vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy - NHS
Folic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. If you did not take folic acid before you conceived, you should start as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Try to eat green leafy vegetables which contain folate (the natural form of folic acid) ...
Read full article
Source:
nhs.uk
14
Periconceptional folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects
All women, from the moment they begin trying to conceive until 12 weeks of gestation, should take a folic acid supplement (400 μg folic acid daily). Women who have had a fetus diagnosed as affected by a neural tube defect or have given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect should: ... ...
Read full article
Source:
who.int
Medical & Academic Institutions
Information from hospitals, research institutions, or academic medical centers known for clinical expertise and research contributions.
2
Folic Acid for a Healthy Baby | Johns Hopkins Medicine
The developing baby needs folate to make healthy new cells, and to make DNA and RNA (genetic material). These are cell-building blocks. Folate also is essential to form normal red blood cells and certain amino acids. These are important functions during pregnancy and infancy.
3
What Does Folic Acid Do for the Body? | Northwestern Medicine
Folic acid is vital for a baby's health. Without enough folic acid, the neural tube may not develop properly, resulting in spina bifida or other birth defects.
16
Too Much Folate in Pregnant Women Increases Risk for Autism, Study Suggests | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health
We must aim for optimal levels of this important nutrient.” · Folate is essential in cell growth and promotes neurodevelopmental growth. Deficiencies early in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects and to an increased risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder.
17
Why every woman needs folic acid | UCLA Health
But the health advantages of folic acid reach far beyond pregnancy – this supplement offers lifelong benefits for all women. The good news is that folic acid is easy to add to your daily regimen. Once you understand why it’s important, how much you need and where to find it, getting the recommended daily amount is simple. And your health will be better for it. Folic acid is the manufactured form of folate...
Read full article
Source:
UCLA Health