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Folic acid
Folic Acid
Folic acid is an essential B vitamin that is acknowledged as a supplement every woman should take, preferably for three months prior to conception and for three months after conception. It has been shown to dramatically reduce the incidence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, where a gap develops in the spine and damage to the central nervous system occurs.
Although folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables, fruits, yeast extract, wholegrain cereals and bread, up to half of it can be lost in cooking or storage. It is therefore recommended that a 400mcg supplement is taken each day. In some cases a higher dose may be recommended such as if you have had a previous pregnancy with a neural tube problem, are taking medication for epilepsy or have coeliac disease.
If you have not been taking folic acid pre-conceptually, do not panic, just start taking it as soon as your pregnancy has been confirmed. If you are already taking a vitamin or mineral supplement that includes folic acid, just make sure that it includes at least 400mcg. If not, you will be better of taking a special pre-pregnancy vitamin preparation, which should contain at least 400mcg of folic acid.
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