Folic acid (other names - vitamin B9, folacin) plays a very important role important role at the stage of pregnancy planning. It affects the productivity of conception and the full bearing of a strong, healthy baby without deviations or pathologies.

If a shortage of this vital substance is discovered in the body of future parents, problems may arise in the future that will be quite difficult to solve. Therefore, folic acid when planning pregnancy is the foundation for the health of the future baby, which is laid by young people who want to soon become parents.

Taking this vitamin raises quite a lot of questions, for which it is better to get answers from specialists.

To begin with, future parents must understand why they should drink folic acid when planning a pregnancy - not only for women, but also for men. Firstly, this vitamin will prepare the body for the full conception of a baby, and both spouses participate in this process. Folic acid:

• activates the absorption and breakdown of proteins;
• needed for cell division;
• promotes normal hematopoiesis;
• helps improve appetite;
• helps absorb amino acids and sugar;
• is important in the formation of DNA and RNA, which are involved in the direct transmission of hereditary characteristics;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
• protects against food poisoning;
• supports immunity;
• improves performance gastrointestinal tract;
• helps to absorb other vitamins necessary for normal conception and bearing a child.

Secondly, folic acid is very important for women when planning pregnancy, because if there is a shortage of it during pregnancy, serious problems can begin:

• pathology of the egg, which either cannot be fertilized at all (i.e., conception will not occur) or will not guarantee the formation of a healthy fetus;
• placental abruption (both partial and absolute);
• spontaneous abortion (miscarriage);
• congenital defects in a child: anencephaly, neural tube defect, malnutrition, cleft lip, mental retardation;
• anemia, which can lead to;
• loss of appetite, which means the baby in the womb will not receive enough nutrients necessary for him to fully develop;
• irritability and increased fatigue, as a result of which the baby may be born nervous and capricious.

Future fathers should know that folic acid is no less important when planning pregnancy for men, since if there is a lack of it, conception may not occur at all. Vitamin B9 is simply necessary for anyone who dreams of becoming a dad, because:

• reduces the number of defective, low-quality sperm, which initially carry the wrong set of chromosomes (later this may result in serious pathologies fetus);
• increases the chances of conceiving a strong, healthy, full-fledged baby several times;
• increases the motility and penetrating ability of sperm.

Now it becomes clear why folic acid is so necessary for both men and women when planning pregnancy. Very often, conception does not occur precisely because one of the spouses (or both) has a lack of vitamin B9. And 80% of pathologies nervous system in newborns are due to the same reason.

So as not to encounter such serious problems, it is necessary to begin to replenish the deficiency of folacin in the body long before pregnancy. This can be done using medicines and foods rich in folic acid.

Also, do not forget that our health and internal flora are very dependent on external influencing factors, especially personal hygiene. How often do you pay attention to the composition of the washing cosmetics you use? Shower gels, washing gels, shampoos, any product that comes into contact with exposed skin affects the internal flora of the body.

To choose cosmetics It is worth treating with more care, especially during the period of conception and subsequent pregnancy. Avoid products that contain silicones and parabens, as well as unclear abbreviations DEA, MEA, TEA. Such chemicals have harmful influence on the body, entering the blood through the pores and settling on the organs. Pay attention to expiration dates. When using real natural ingredients, the shelf life cannot exceed one year.

Foods rich in vitamin B9

If both parents, before planning a pregnancy, healthy image life, do not suffer from any chronic diseases and eat well, they may not be prescribed folic acid in the form of a separate drug. However, future parents should definitely include foods rich in folic acid in their daily diet. These include:

• leafy greens: sorrel, dill, spinach, cilantro, parsley, lettuce;
• legumes, beans, green peas;
• citrus fruits, watermelon, peaches;
• oatmeal, buckwheat, rice cereal, wholemeal flour;
• almond, walnuts;
• animal products: liver, meat, kidneys;
• sea ​​fish;
• cheese, milk, cream, kefir, cottage cheese;
• beets, cabbage, onions, carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, melon, cucumber;
• chicken eggs.

It should be noted here that during heat treatment, folic acid loses its beneficial features. Therefore, if possible, it is better to eat these foods either fresh (leafy greens, for example) or steamed (meat and fish).

Even with daily consumption of a sufficient amount of these products, a lack of vitamin B9 is very often detected. In this case, future parents are prescribed one of the medications containing folic acid.

Medicines with folic acid

Regular use of folic acid when planning pregnancy is the key successful conception and bearing a full-fledged baby. Therefore, future parents are very often prescribed medications containing it.

• Folic acid tablets

One of the best options for taking folic acid when planning pregnancy. This medicine has such advantages as price (very inexpensive) and quality. Typically, the dosage in tablets (one contains 1 mg of vitamin B9) when planning pregnancy is indicated in the instructions and is 1 tablet per day.

• Tablets "Folacin", "Apo-folic"

These drugs are also presented in the form of tablets, but they already contain 5 mg of vitamin B each, while the daily dose of folic acid when planning pregnancy is 800 mcg (for women). Therefore the data medicines are prescribed only in cases where one of the spouses (couples) has an acute shortage of this substance. In this case, there will be no harm to the body from an excess of folacin, since all excess will simply be eliminated from it. It is not recommended to take these drugs on your own, without a doctor’s prescription, since they are considered therapeutic, not preventive.

• Tablets "Folio"

Very good drug, since it contains two elements at once that are necessary for the full conception and successful bearing of a child in the future. Contains 400 mcg of vitamin B9, while daily norm folic acid for women is 800 mcg (i.e., you will need to drink 2 tablets per day), the dosage for men is 400 mcg (1 tablet per day will be enough), and 200 mcg of iodine. Dose active substance this medicine is prophylactic, i.e. it covers the needs female body in the absence of folacin deficiency.

• Poly vitamin complexes

Folic acid is also contained in all vitamin complexes specially designed for those planning pregnancy. These are “Materna”, “Elevit”, “Vitrum prenatal”, “Vitrum prenatal forte”, “Multi-tabs perinatal”, “Pregnavit”. All of these complexes are accompanied by instructions indicating their folic acid content. It usually ranges from 400 to 1,000 mcg, which is a prophylactic dosage for at this stage for young parents.

There are a lot of medications, but they raise a lot of questions among expectant parents: how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy - as a separate medication or in combination with other vitamins, in what dosage and for how long. The doctor should provide this information after the examination, or, in extreme cases, it can be found in the instructions for the prescribed medications.

If there are any doubts whether you have chosen the correct daily dosage of folic acid when planning a pregnancy and how long you should start taking it before conception, here are a few simple but very useful tips will help you resolve them. A unique universal instruction for all preparations containing vitamin B9 will prevent possible errors.

1. How to use?

If the examination revealed a significant deficiency of folic acid in the body of the expectant mother or father, they are prescribed medications containing directly only folacin. If no problems with a lack of this substance are found, the doctor may recommend vitamin complexes and eating foods rich in vitamin B9.

1. What should be the dosage?

A very important question is how much folic acid to drink when planning pregnancy for men and women. Since the expectant mother’s body will need to give a fairly large amount of folacin to the child for the full formation of his nervous system and brain, she will need a daily dose of 800 mcg. For future fathers, a dosage of 400 mcg of folic acid will be enough to ensure the fullness, health and mobility of sperm, necessary for a successful conception. However, these figures apply only to those who lead a healthy lifestyle and do not suffer from a catastrophic deficiency of vitamin B9. Otherwise, the dosage is increased by the doctor depending on individual characteristics body.

1. When to start drinking?

The difficulty is that vitamin B9 does not tend to accumulate in the body: it is very actively consumed in it, and all excess is constantly removed from it. In order for conception to be successful, doctors recommend starting to take medications with folic acid 3 months before the cherished date.

1. What affects the body's absorption of folic acid?

Very often, despite the fact that future parents actively and promptly began taking folic acid when planning pregnancy, the fetus subsequently still develops pathologies of the nervous system associated with a lack of this vitamin. This happens because they, taking the right drug, did nothing to ensure that it was assimilated in full.

Folic acid in the body is consumed several times more if a person actively smokes, abuses alcohol, regularly does not get enough sleep, is in a state of constant depression, long time takes antibiotics or hormonal drugs, has problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, both parents are strongly recommended to give up all bad habits before conceiving, start leading a healthy lifestyle, take medications as little as possible, restore their nervous system and undergo treatment for all chronic diseases.

1. Is it possible to overdose on folic acid?

Vitamin B9 is good because it is actively removed from the body if not all is consumed. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of being poisoned by this drug or experiencing unpleasant side effects from it. However, this does not mean at all that you can eat folacin tablets in unlimited quantities, and nothing will come from it. You must adhere to the dosages prescribed by your doctor and indicated in the instructions. Only then will the drug used be beneficial.

Now you know why folic acid is so necessary for both men and women when planning pregnancy. If there is a lack of it in the body, even conception may fail due to low motility or poor quality of sperm or inferiority of the egg.

Safe bearing of a child is also impossible without the required amount of folacin in the mother’s body: this threatens serious, irreversible pathologies for the fetus and is fraught with miscarriage. Therefore, those who are planning to conceive a baby in the near future should pay attention to Special attention for vitamin B9, so that no problems arise in such an important and responsible matter.

The fact that the human body has a certain daily requirement in every vitamin and microelement, everyone knows. But here it is worth considering that some substances can be fully or partially synthesized by the body itself, while others can come exclusively from external sources. Folic acid (or vitamin B9) is produced by the microflora of the large intestine, but this amount is so small that it is usually not even taken into account. This component is essential to ensure normal operation organs and systems, so it is important to ensure its supply. What exactly is the benefit of the substance and how can it be obtained? – this is what we will find out in this article.

What is folic acid good for and what is it for?

Folic acid has a general positive effect on the human body, as it ensures the normal course of the following processes:

• synthesis and maintenance of DNA structure integrity;
• cell growth;
• production of enzymes that prevent the appearance of tumors;
• establishing immune defense;
• cardiovascular system support;
• amino acid synthesis;
• beneficial effect on hematopoiesis;
• regulation of processes of excitation and inhibition of the nervous system.

Component in mandatory is included in the complex of therapy for Parkinson's disease and many other complex diseases.

Benefits for women's health

Folic acid is one of those components that is simply necessary for the female body. First of all, the substance helps to form new cells, which promotes the growth of hair and nails, and more active renewal of the skin. A number of studies have found that ensuring sufficient intake of the vitamin in the body reduces the likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

It is worth considering that women are more emotional, so their reaction to events happening around them is often quite acute. The described vitamin is a kind of prevention of depressive conditions due to the fact that it participates in the process of stimulating the production of the so-called happiness hormone - serotonin. But a deficiency of this component is a direct path to emotional depression, depression, increased fatigue and other unpleasant conditions.

Beneficial properties for men

Receipt of all essential vitamins and minerals into the body is the key to well-being, vigor and health. Each of the useful components has its own role in human body, and folic acid is also essential for men in the following aspects:

• the vitamin is involved in the process of formation of new cells, and when it is deficient, the number of active sperm is significantly reduced, which reduces a man’s ability to conceive;
• for conception, it is important to take B9 for at least three months to reduce the likelihood of the formation of gene mutations in future offspring;
• V adolescence the component is necessary for the normal course of the puberty process;
  Thanks to folic acid, the chances of suffering from baldness in old age are reduced.

Vitamin B9- an important component of all gender dependencies, and its intake in full is important to control at any age and situation.

When planning a pregnancy

B9 in sufficient quantities is especially important for pregnant women, as it is largely the key to a successful pregnancy and normal intrauterine development of the baby. Its intake helps achieve the following positive effects:

• reduces the risk of premature birth;
• helps normalize the emotional background in the postpartum period;
• folic acid plays a significant role in the prevention of pathologies of neural tube development in a baby;
• The substance may not help you get pregnant, but it prepares the body and provides necessary conditions for conception, which necessitates taking the drug for at least a three-month period before the planned conception.

Some do not consider it necessary to take vitamin complexes both in preparation for pregnancy and during its course, but experts insist that this is a risk no longer for the mother herself, but for the unborn baby.

For the beauty of facial skin, hair and nails

This direction of the beneficial effect of the described component directly follows from its ability to influence the processes of active formation of new cells. The most obvious consequence of folic acid deficiency is the appearance of defects skin, often in women who are not concerned about a sufficient supply of the component, white spots appear on the skin. It is for the normal renewal of the skin of the face and the whole body that B9 is needed.

Folic acid is also beneficial for complexion, good condition nails and hair. In both women and men, it helps avoid baldness as it stimulates hair growth. Considering all of the above, it is not at all surprising that the component is classified as a beauty vitamin.

For weight loss

In this aspect, it is worth mentioning the special importance of the component in metabolic functions body. Ensuring a normal supply of the component is not only good for health, but also for your figure: the vitamin helps process fat cells. This effect explains why many nutritionists recommend taking additional folic acid. But you should understand that this is not the only way to lose weight; a vitamin complex is only one element of common system designed to help you lose extra pounds.

Symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency

It is not so easy for the body to obtain folic acid in the required volume. Firstly, part of such an important product is lost when there is bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcoholic drinks and frequent use of medications. The substance is poorly absorbed if there are problems with the liver. Secondly, due to the fact that this vitamin is water-soluble, it is very quickly destroyed during heat treatment, at room temperature under the influence of sunlight; obtaining it from food is also a rather difficult process. Taking all this into account, approximately 7-8 people out of ten have a deficiency of this component, which can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

1. feeling of depression, frequent depressive moods;
2. decreased activity and performance;
3. irritability;
4. insomnia;
5. fast fatiguability;
6. headache;
7. noticeable memory impairment;
8. defects in fetal development or frequent, causeless cases of termination of pregnancy.

An acute shortage of a component usually results in open hostility and aggressiveness towards the outside world, sudden weight loss, and loss of appetite. In particularly difficult cases, psychological disorders may even develop - various kinds of mania or paranoia.

A deficiency can occur only when sufficient supplies of a component have not been observed for more than a month. After 4 months of this condition, anemia develops, which disrupts the formation of blood cells in the bone marrow.

Instructions for use of vitamin B9 and dosage

To maintain your health, it is important to ensure at least a minimal intake of the vitamin into your body. For an adult, this lower line is 200 mcg, the optimal is up to 400 mcg. Receipt good result requires regular use of the tablet form of the vitamin, otherwise the effect will not be lasting. It is worth considering that additional dose folic acid is necessary in conditions of increased mental and physical activity, during illnesses and stressful situations. In such situations, the minimum is increased to 300-400 mcg (this is especially important for people who are in professional sports).

Preparations with this component must be taken either during meals or immediately after once a day. The recommended duration of the preventive course is from two to three months.

How to take for pregnant women

Vitamin B9 is important for the development of the fetus, and during pregnancy, a woman’s need for this component increases 2-3 times. The specific dose should be prescribed by the doctor who is caring for the pregnancy, and usually the dosage is 500-800 mcg. In the 1st trimester, the increased dose is most relevant, after which it can be reduced. Don't be so scared large numbers– the excess component is easily eliminated by the body, and an overdose is only possible if you take about three dozen tablets at once.

Directions for use for children

For a child, the rate of acid consumption is determined by his specific age. So, for example, up to one year it should be supplied in the amount of 50 mcg, up to 6 years the dosage increases to 100 mcg, for up to 10 years - 150 mcg, and, finally, over 12 years, a dose of 200 mcg is relevant. The main indication for use is usually the prevention of deficiency.

How to drink folic acid if it is deficient in the body

The deficiency of the component must be replenished systematically, without relying on taking the vitamin in large quantities at once. It will be enough to purchase the drug in tablets and take it according to the rules described in the instructions. The deficiency state can only be eliminated and prevented by the systematic use of supplements and correction of dietary style, which involves increasing the number of healthy foods.

What foods contain folic acid?

Vitamin B9 is found in food products, but it is worth remembering that during heat treatment it is almost completely destroyed, so if possible, they are eaten fresh. Distinctive feature most foods rich in B9 – rich, dark green color. The list looks like this:

• celery, spinach, different types cabbage and green onions;
• walnuts;
• tomatoes;
• citrus fruits and watermelons;
• cereals, yeast;
• sprouted wheat seeds;
• beets, etc.

The component is also found in dairy products, egg yolks, sea fish and beef liver. It is worth mentioning that B9 is effectively absorbed only in the presence of a sufficient amount of vitamin B12, so nutrition must take into account and maintain this balance.

Names of drugs containing folic acid

Buy healthy vitamins with folic acid can be found in any pharmacy, and the component can be the only one active ingredient composition, and be included among others. The simplest and accessible remedy has a similar name - Folic acid tablets. The ingredients of such a supplement include only vitamin B9 (usually 1 mg per tablet) and auxiliary components.

You can also find the vitamin in complex vitamin supplements, for example:

• Complivit;
• Doppelhertz asset;
• Foliber (product containing B9 and 12);
• Maltofer;
• Folic acid “9 months”;
• Efalar (Folic acid + B6 + B12).

Considering the increased need for the component when carrying a baby, this period Prescribe specialized vitamin complexes, for example:

• Complimentary Mom;
• Vitrum Prenatal Forte;
• Alphabet Mom's health;
• Pregnavit.

Harm and side effects from taking vitamin B9

Taking folic acid over a long period of time can cause some harm to the body, even though there is no accumulation effect. So, stimulating the production of estrogen for a woman is undoubtedly useful for conception, but to a certain limit. Excessive growth of the endometrium is an ideal platform for the development of tumors in the uterus. Normalization of endorphin production is also good in moderation - it increased amount leads to overexcitation, which is accompanied by irritability, problems with sleep, and even the occurrence of panic attacks. Side effects may affect kidney function, immune system, digestive tract.

Overdose

Considering that this vitamin is water-soluble, its excess is usually simply excreted from the body, but an overdose situation is still possible - when taking an increased dose for a long time. Previously, it was believed that there was no harm from vitamin B9, no matter how much it was taken, but recent studies have shown that if an overdose occurs during pregnancy, the risk of having a baby with a tendency to bronchial asthma and frequent colds increases.

Excessive intake of this substance for problems with cardiovascular system may lead to the development of coronary insufficiency and heart attack in the future. In the presence of megaloblastic anemia, a large amount of the described substance can help hide symptoms and imperceptibly worsen the disease.

And although direct harm to a healthy person from an overdose is not described, if such symptoms occur, it is better to seek medical help:

• metallic taste;
• rash on the body;
• digestive problems;
• increased irritability;
• sleep disorders.

Contraindications to the use of folic acid

The only clear contraindication to the use of folic acid is increased sensitivity to it, which depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. However, there are several situations in which the use of the substance is carried out with extreme caution, namely:

• forms of anemia associated with a lack of vitamin B 12;
• disturbance of iron metabolism in the body;
• childhood;
• the presence of malignant neoplasms.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) - description, instructions for use, how and how much to take when planning pregnancy and after conception, symptoms of deficiency and excess of folic acid, content in food, reviews

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Folic acid also called vitamin At 9 and represents water soluble vitamin, necessary for the normal course of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow and protein synthesis. With a deficiency of folic acid, a person develops macrocytic anemia, which in its characteristics and mechanism of development is similar to megaloblastic or pernicious anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B12.

Folic acid enters the human body with food or is produced by microflora in the intestines. The vitamin is absorbed into the blood after first being converted into a free form and delivered to the liver, bone marrow and other organs and tissues.

Folic acid - general characteristics and biological role

Folic acid gets its name from the Latin word "folium", which means "leaf", because largest quantities This vitamin is found in the green leaves of various vegetables, such as spinach salad, etc. Vitamin B 9, in addition to folic acid, includes a number of compounds that are its derivatives and are united by the common name folacin or folates. But since all compounds, united by the common name “folacin,” have vitamin activity and are absorbed by the body, in the further text of the article we will use the concepts “vitamin B 9” and “folic acid” as synonyms, meaning all folacins.

Folic acid can enter the human body not only with food and dietary supplements, but also produced in the upper third of the small intestine by microorganisms of normal microflora. In many cases, folic acid is produced by microorganisms intestinal microflora in quantities that fully satisfy a person’s daily needs. Therefore, even if folic acid is supplied from food in insufficient quantities, symptoms of its deficiency may not develop, since the missing amount of this vitamin is synthesized by microflora in the intestines.

Vitamin B 9 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. The fact is that folic acid activates enzymes that ensure the occurrence of biochemical reactions, during which mature red blood cells are formed. Therefore, with folic acid deficiency, anemia develops.

In addition, vitamin B 9 is necessary for the synthesis of proteins and DNA, and, accordingly, for cell division of all organs and tissues. During division, new cells are formed to replace dead or damaged ones. That is, folic acid ensures the process of repair and replacement of dead cellular elements with new ones and, thus, maintains the normal structure of all organs and tissues. In addition, folic acid ensures normal development of the fetus, especially in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, since it is during this period the period is running very intensive cell division, during which the formation of organs and tissues occurs.

Since the formation of new cells occurs at different rates in different tissues, the need for folic acid varies different organs different. Thus, the greatest need for folic acid is experienced by tissues in which frequent renewal of cellular composition occurs, namely skin, mucous membranes, hair, blood, testicles in men and ovaries in women, fetus in the initial stages of pregnancy, etc. That is why with folic acid deficiency acids primarily affect organs in which intensive cell division occurs.

Thus, with a deficiency of folic acid, defective sperm and eggs are formed, developmental defects form in the fetus, the skin becomes dry, flaky and flabby, and various diseases develop in the gastrointestinal tract. This happens because the cells of these organs are dividing intensively and they need folic acid for the normal course of this process.

In addition, vitamin B 9 is involved in the production of serotonin, the joy hormone that ensures normal mood and well-being. Therefore, with a lack of folic acid, a person may develop dementia (dementia), depression, neuroses and some other disorders of brain function.

Folic acid is also involved in the process of transmitting nerve impulses. Therefore, with folic acid deficiency, neuritis and polyneuritis can develop.

Folic acid - application

Folic acid when planning pregnancy

Folic acid is the only vitamin that all pregnant women must take until at least 12 weeks, since it is during this period that the development of the nervous system and the formation of other organs and tissues of the fetus occur, for which folacin is needed. However, it is recommended to take folic acid already at the planning stage, without waiting for pregnancy, in order to create a normal concentration of this vitamin in tissues. In this case, by the time pregnancy occurs, the woman is guaranteed to have no folic acid deficiency, which can be critical for the growth and development of the fetus, as well as the course of pregnancy.

When planning a pregnancy It is recommended to start taking folic acid 3 – 4 months before expected conception so that by the time the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, there is no deficiency of this vitamin in the woman’s body. When the test results indicate conception, Folic acid intake must be continued until at least the 12th week of pregnancy . After this gestational age, folic acid intake can be discontinued or continued at the request of the woman, if she does not have a deficiency of this vitamin. If there are signs of folic acid deficiency, then it must be taken before birth in an individual dosage prescribed by a doctor. In addition, if a woman who does not suffer from folate deficiency is willing and has the financial ability to take folic acid after 12 weeks of pregnancy, then she can also do this until birth. Moreover, doctors and scientists consider it advisable to take folic acid during the planning stage and after the 12th week of gestation before childbirth. Doctors consider taking folic acid from the beginning until the 12th week of pregnancy mandatory.

The importance of using folic acid at the planning stage and during pregnancy is due to the fact that this vitamin is critically necessary for the rapid proliferation of cells that occurs during embryo growth. With a deficiency of this vitamin, malformations of the nervous system are formed, and there is also an increased risk of miscarriages, placental abruption, intrauterine fetal death, etc. Thus, it was found that taking folic acid in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy prevents malformations of the nervous system in the fetus by 70%.

In addition, folacin prevents miscarriages, spontaneous abortions, miscarriage, placental abruption and other complications of pregnancy, which are especially dangerous in its early stages, since they almost inevitably lead to the death of the fetus.

At the stage of pregnancy planning in most countries, including the CIS, doctors recommend taking 400 mcg of folic acid per day for women who have not previously had births or miscarriages of fetuses with neural tube defects. If a woman has had miscarriages or the birth of fetuses with neural tube defects, or she is taking antiepileptic drugs or cytostatics, then in this case the dosage of folic acid at the pregnancy planning stage should be increased to 800 - 4000 mcg per day. The exact dosage is determined by the doctor individually. After pregnancy, women should take folic acid at the same dosage as during the planning stage until the 12th week of gestation.

Folic acid during pregnancy

Iron and folic acid are the only substances that have been proven to improve the outcome and course of pregnancy in all women. That is why World organization Health Authority (WHO) recommends that all pregnant women take folic acid and iron without fail.

Vitamins with folic acid should definitely be taken from the beginning of pregnancy until the 12th week of gestation inclusive. This means that as soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant, she should start taking folic acid that same day. If vitamin B 9 was taken before pregnancy at the planning stage, then after conception it is necessary to continue taking it in the same dosage until the 12th week of gestation inclusive.

Starting from the 13th week of gestation, folic acid must be taken by pregnant women suffering from a deficiency of this vitamin or taking medications that reduce its absorption, such as antiepileptic and antimalarial drugs, as well as cytostatics. All other women, starting from the 13th week of gestation, are recommended to continue taking folic acid until childbirth, but this is not necessary, but it is advisable.

If a woman begins to take multivitamin complexes for pregnant women from the second trimester, then there is no need to take additional folic acid, since this vitamin is included in all modern multivitamins. If these vitamin complexes are not taken during the entire pregnancy, then at times when the woman does not use them, it is advisable to drink folic acid separately.

During pregnancy, folic acid is recommended to be taken in a dosage of 400 mcg per day for women who have not previously had births or miscarriages of children with neural tube defects. If a woman has had a history of giving birth to children or spontaneous abortions of a fetus with neural tube defects, then she should take folic acid in a dosage of 1000 - 4000 mcg (1 - 4 mg) per day. In addition, pregnant women who are taking antiepileptic, antimalarial drugs or cytostatics should increase the dosage of folic acid to 800 - 4000 mcg. In these cases, the dosage of the vitamin is determined by the doctor individually.

Pregnant women must take folic acid, since this vitamin is very important for the normal course of pregnancy, as well as the growth and development of the fetus. Thus, a lack of folic acid is one of the main triggering factors that provoke miscarriage, spontaneous miscarriage, placental abruption, intrauterine fetal death, as well as the formation of neural tube defects in the child. If neural tube malformations are formed at an early stage of pregnancy (up to 8–9 weeks), then in almost all cases they are incompatible with life, that is, fetal death and miscarriage occur. If malformations of the neural tube are formed after 8–9 weeks of gestation, this can lead to the birth of a child with hydrocephalus, cerebral hernia, etc. In addition, even if the child does not develop neural tube defects due to folic acid deficiency in the body of a pregnant woman, after birth he may suffer from mental retardation, psychosis, neuroses, etc.

In addition, a lack of folic acid negatively affects the course of pregnancy and the general well-being of the woman herself. Thus, with a deficiency of this vitamin in a pregnant woman, the risk of developing toxicosis, depression, leg pain and anemia significantly increases. A lack of folic acid in a pregnant woman's body can manifest itself as the following symptoms:

• Chronic fatigue and irritability;
• Neuroses;
• Restlessness, anxiety;
• Feeling of heaviness in the stomach;
• Memory impairment;
• Apathy;
• Dry skin and hair loss.

If a pregnant woman has four or more of the above symptoms, then this indicates that she is suffering from folic acid deficiency. In such a situation, you should donate blood to determine the concentration of vitamin B9 in it, based on the results of which the doctor will select the necessary therapeutic dose of folic acid, which should be taken daily until delivery. Normally, the concentration of folic acid in the blood is 3 – 17 ng/ml. The lower the level of vitamin in the blood of a pregnant woman, the higher the dosage of the vitamin she needs.

Dosage of folic acid during planning and pregnancy

At the planning stage of pregnancy, folic acid should be taken in a dosage of 400 mcg for women who have not previously had miscarriages or the birth of children with neural tube defects. After pregnancy, these women must continue to take folic acid in the same dosage (400 mcg per day) without fail until the 12th week of gestation inclusive.

If in the past a woman has had miscarriages or the birth of children with neural tube defects (for example, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, etc.), then at the planning stage she should take folic acid 1000 - 4000 mcg (1 - 4 mg) per day. After pregnancy, this category of women should take folic acid in the same dosage, that is, 1000 - 4000 mcg per day. IN similar situations The dosage is determined by the doctor individually.

If a woman is taking any medications that reduce the absorption of folic acid (for example, antiepileptics, antimalarials, sulfonamides, antihyperlipidemics, antituberculosis, cytostatics, nitrofurans, drugs with alcohol, glucocorticoids, Aspirin in high doses), then at the stage of pregnancy planning she should drink folic acid 800 - 4000 mcg per day. When pregnancy occurs, this category of women should take folic acid in the same dosage as at the planning stage, that is, 800 - 4000 mcg per day.

In addition, these women must take folic acid not before the 12th week of gestation, but throughout pregnancy or during the period during which they are taking medications that impair the absorption of the vitamin. That is, if medications are taken throughout pregnancy, then folic acid is taken in the indicated dosages before birth. If at some stage of pregnancy a woman stops taking medications that impair the absorption of folic acid, then she should do the following:

• If this happened before the 12th week of gestation, then it is imperative to continue taking folic acid at a dosage of 400 mcg per day until the beginning of the 13th week;
• If this happens after the 12th week, then you should either stop taking folic acid or continue, but reduce its dosage to 400 mcg per day.

Folic acid for men

Men, like women, need folic acid for normal hematopoiesis and the functioning of the intestines and stomach, as well as for the transmission of impulses through the nerve fibers. However, this is the general biological role of folic acid, carried out by it in the human body.

In addition, folic acid is very important for conceiving a child, both for men and women. Thus, it is vitamin B 9 that takes part in the process of maturation and formation of normal, non-defective, full-fledged sperm in men. And therefore, taking folic acid by men increases the likelihood of conceiving a healthy child.

Recent studies have shown that taking folic acid at a dosage of 600 - 1000 mcg reduces the number of defective sperm with wrong number chromosomes by 20 - 30%, which, accordingly, prevents the birth of children with developmental defects and genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome, Shershevsky-Turner syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome, etc.

In addition, a decrease in the number of defective sperm while taking folic acid increases the likelihood of conception. Thus, a man who takes folic acid will be able to impregnate a woman faster and, in addition, he will give birth to healthier offspring.

That is why men are recommended to include in their diet foods rich in folic acid, such as liver, beef, pork, tuna, salmon, cheeses, legumes, bran, nuts, leafy vegetables, etc. In addition, men can take vitamins or dietary supplements to get enough folic acid.

Separately, it should be noted that doctors recommend that you take folic acid supplements at a dosage of 800 mcg per day for a week after consumption large quantity alcohol. This recommendation is aimed at replenishing the deficiency of folic acid in a man’s body, which inevitably occurs after heavy alcohol consumption, since ethyl alcohol impairs absorption and washes this vitamin from organs and tissues.

Folic acid for children

Because folic acid deficiency most often occurs in full-term or preterm newborns or children early age, then it is necessary to very carefully ensure that these categories of babies receive a sufficient amount of the vitamin through food or dietary supplements.

Folic acid deficiency in children leads to the following negative consequences:

• Development of macrocytic anemia;
• Weight loss;
• Inhibition of hematopoiesis;
• Disruption of the normal process of maturation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and skin;
• Increased risk of developing enteritis, diaper rash and delayed psychomotor development.

In the fetus, newborns and children of the first year of life, folic acid deficiency develops due to a lack of this vitamin in the mother’s body during pregnancy or its low content in milk formulas for artificial feeding. Natural feeding (breastfeeding) helps quickly eliminate folic acid deficiency in infants, since human milk contains sufficient amounts for the needs of a growing baby, even if the woman herself suffers from a lack of vitamin B 9.

Artificial feeding does not help eliminate the infant's folic acid deficiency, since this vitamin is destroyed when formula is heated. In addition, artificial feeding can lead to folic acid deficiency in an infant who was born without it, for the same reason - the destruction of the vitamin in the process of heating formulas.

Therefore, full-term children under one year old who are on artificial feeding, it is recommended to give vitamin B 9 at a dosage of 100 mcg per day. Premature babies, regardless of the type of feeding, must be given folic acid 100 mcg per day, since 2–3 weeks after birth they develop a vitamin deficiency and the risk of infectious complications increases.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) when planning pregnancy: instructions for use and dosage, recommended foods, advice from a geneticist - video

Instructions for use of folic acid

General rules

Folic acid can be taken in the form of vitamins or dietary supplements (dietary supplements) to prevent or eliminate deficiency of this vitamin in the body. To prevent deficiency, folic acid should be taken in the following cases:

• Insufficient nutrition in quantity or quality;
• Increased need for folic acid (pregnant women, nursing mothers, premature babies, bottle-fed newborns);
• Reduced absorption of folic acid (for example, with alcoholism, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, sprue, taking antiepileptic drugs, medications with trimethoprim, methotrexate, etc.);
• The presence of malnutrition (low body weight), ulcers on the oral mucosa, anemia and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

As a preventative measure, folic acid is taken in a dosage of 200–400 mcg per day. It is allowed to increase the preventive dosage of folic acid to 800 mcg per day, especially for nursing mothers and young children.

To eliminate folic acid deficiency, vitamin preparations and dietary supplements are taken in higher dosages compared to preventive ones. In such cases, the dosage is determined by the doctor individually and can reach up to 75–80 mg per day. That is, the therapeutic dose of folic acid can be 200 times higher than the preventive dose.

Taking folic acid supplements to eliminate its deficiency in the body is necessary if the following symptoms are present:

• Megaloblastic anemia, combined with thrombocytopenia and leukopenia;
• Dry red "varnished" tongue;
• Atrophic or erosive gastritis;
• Enteritis with diarrhea;
• Growth retardation in children;
• Long-term wound healing;
• Immunodeficiency;
• Exacerbation of chronic infectious diseases;
• Low-grade body temperature, recorded for at least three weeks;
• Memory impairment;
• Irritability;
• Hostility towards others;

All of the above conditions and diseases are caused by a deficiency of folic acid, so taking this vitamin helps eliminate them, that is, recovery, improvement general condition, normalization of well-being and vital processes.

Besides, Folic acid in therapeutic dosages is used in the complex treatment of the following diseases:

• Enteritis;
• Diseases of the hematopoietic organs (bone marrow, spleen, liver);
• Chronic hepatitis;
• Cirrhosis of the liver;
• Atherosclerosis;
• Psoriasis;
• Depression;
• Increased anxiety;
• Cervical dysplasia.

Folic acid dosage

The dosage of folic acid depends on whether it is taken for preventive or therapeutic purposes. To prevent folic acid deficiency against the background of qualitative and quantitative balanced nutrition it should be taken 200 mcg per day. If your diet is poor, it is recommended to take 400 mcg of folic acid per day.

To eliminate folic acid deficiency revealed by test results (blood concentration below 3 ng/ml), it should be taken in a dosage of 800 - 5000 mcg per day. In this case, the dosage is determined by the doctor individually and adjusted based on the concentration of folic acid in the blood according to test data. To eliminate the deficiency, folic acid in the indicated dosages must be taken for 20 to 30 days. After this, it is recommended to switch to taking folic acid in a prophylactic dosage (200 - 400 mcg per day), which can be continued for several months until the state of health is completely normalized and all symptoms of deficiency disappear.

To treat folate deficiency anemia, vitamin B9 preparations should be taken at a dose of 1000 mcg per day until the blood picture and hemoglobin level are normalized.

However, for the treatment of folate deficiency anemia and eliminating the lack of vitamin B 9 in the body in people suffering alcohol addiction, malabsorption syndrome, liver failure, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as those who have had their stomach removed or are under stress, the dosage of folic acid is increased to 5000 mcg per day.

IN complex therapy various diseases(atherosclerosis, cervical dysplasia, psoriasis, etc.) folic acid should be taken in very high dosages - from 15 to 80 mg per day (15,000 - 80,000 mcg), which are determined individually by the doctor.

How much folic acid should you take?

In prophylactic dosages , not exceeding 400 mcg per day, folic acid can be taken for as long as desired.

In the treatment of folic acid deficiency the vitamin in medicinal dosages must be taken for 20 to 30 days. After this, you should switch to taking folic acid in preventive dosages (200 - 400 mcg per day).

In the treatment of folate deficiency anemia the vitamin should be taken until the blood picture normalizes (the disappearance of giant red blood cells from it) and hemoglobin level.

When using folic acid in complex therapy of various diseases The duration of its use is determined by the doctor individually in each specific case. However, usually in such cases folic acid in high dosages is taken for a long time.

How to take vitamin B 9?

Folic acid preparations should be taken orally, regardless of food. Tablets or capsules must be swallowed whole, without chewing, biting or crushing in any other way, but with a glass of water. a small amount water .

How much folic acid does a person need per day?

To fully cover the daily requirements for folic acid, children and adults should receive the following amounts of this vitamin daily:

• Newborns up to six months – 65 mcg per day;
• Children 7 – 12 months – 85 mcg per day;
• Children 1 – 3 years – 150 – 300 mcg per day;
• Children 4 – 8 years old – 200 – 400 mcg per day;
• Children 9 – 13 years old – 300 – 600 mcg per day;
• Children 14 – 18 years old – 400 – 800 mcg per day;
• Men and women over 19 years of age - 400 - 1000 mcg per day;
• Pregnant women and nursing mothers - 600 - 1000 mcg per day.

For adults, an adequate and sufficient intake of folic acid to cover the body's needs is 500 - 600 mcg per day.

Folate deficiency

Folic acid deficiency is currently common in the CIS countries - according to international organizations 66 – 77% of the population suffer from a deficiency of this vitamin. Folic acid deficiency is most often observed in pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and young children.

Vitamin B9 deficiency can develop for the following reasons:

1. Insufficient intake of the vitamin from food (qualitatively or quantitatively inadequate diet).

2. Increased need for vitamin (pregnancy, breastfeeding, periods of intensive growth in children and adolescents, skin diseases, hemolytic anemia etc.).

3. Poor absorption of folic acid in the intestines under various chronic diseases(for example, enteritis, chronic diarrhea, sprue, malabsorption syndrome, etc.).

4. Binding of folic acid and deterioration of its absorption while taking certain medications, such as:

• Medicines containing alcohol;
• Pentamin;
• Triamterene;
• Pyrimethamine;
• Trimethoprim;
• Aminopterin;
• Amethopterin;
• Sulfonamides;
• Antiepileptic drugs;
• Antimalarials;
• Anti-tuberculosis drugs;
• Antihyperlipidemic drugs;
• Cytostatics;
• Preparations containing nitrofurans;
• Glucocorticoids;
• Aspirin in high dosages.

Folic acid deficiency is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Megaloblastic anemia;
• Thrombocytopenia ( low quantity platelets in the blood);
• Leukopenia (low number of white blood cells);
• Increased level of bilirubin in the blood;
• Cheilosis (blanching, maceration, transverse cracks and a bright red border in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe junction of the lower and upper lips);
• Gunter's glossitis (dry, red, “varnished” tongue);
• Esophagitis;
• Conjunctivitis;
• Atrophic or erosive gastritis;
• Enteritis with diarrhea;
• Steatorrhea.

Severe folic acid deficiency causes growth retardation in children and prolonged healing

(folacin) is a common vitamin B9. Folic acid was first found in spinach, and then it was discovered that it is richest in it. beef liver, cod liver, walnuts, as well as rye flour, cheese, milk, egg yolk, rice, beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes and a number of other products. Folic acid is a means of preventing atherosclerosis, thrombosis, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Pregnant women really need it, since folacin reduces the risk of spontaneous abortion and nourishes the nervous tissue of the fetus. If this microelement enters the body with natural nutrition is not enough, then it is added to the diet in the form medical product. And here the question arises: how to take folic acid correctly?

Dosage: preventive and therapeutic

The daily requirement of an adult for folic acid is 200 mcg. The tablet contains 1 or 5 mg of the drug. To eliminate folic acid deficiency, an adult is prescribed 150-200 mcg per day, children under 3 years old - 25-50 mcg, children 4-6 years old - 75 mcg, 7-10 years old - 100 mcg per day. In the USA, preventive doses of folic acid are twice as high, and no negative effects on people’s health have been identified in this regard.

For therapeutic purposes, adults are prescribed a daily dose of 400 mcg to 5 mg. The course is 20-30 days. The therapeutic dosage for children is set individually by the doctor in a much smaller proportion.

Contraindications and safety of use

Folic acid is not toxic; the only contraindication for use is the presence of an allergic reaction to it. But long-term (more than 3 months) intake of folic acid in high doses can cause a decrease in vitamin B12 in the blood and lead to anemia. Gastrointestinal disorders and nervous excitability are also possible. To prevent this from happening, folic acid should be taken together with vitamins B12, C and bifidobacteria.

Folic acid requires regular use, but since even a 1 mg tablet covers the daily need for it, there is nothing wrong with accidentally missing one of the doses. You should also be aware that alcohol and drugs that neutralize hydrochloric acid (for example, almagel), as well as some medications, reduce the ability of folacin to be absorbed into the blood.

Taking folic acid during pregnancy

In a healthy pregnant woman it is 600-1000 mcg, and during lactation - 500-600 mcg per day. It is recommended to start taking vitamin B9 3-6 months before pregnancy. This will help normalize the functioning of the ovaries. The greatest need for folic acid is observed in the first 12 weeks. Daily dose should be divided into 2-3 times and taken after meals with water. This makes folacin more easily absorbed by the body. If pregnancy proceeds with abnormalities, you need to consult with your doctor about the dosage and regimen of folic acid in each specific case.

Folic acid (vitamin B 9) provides the necessary speed of growth and development of the unborn child, especially at early stages pregnancy. Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of developing birth defects, in particular neural tube defects (for example, spina bifida), hydrocephalus, anencephaly, as well as malnutrition and prematurity.

Who is deficient in folic acid?

Every second woman has folic acid deficiency. Their proportion is even higher among women taking hormonal drugs and alcohol.

Folic acid before pregnancy: when is B9 most needed?

A pregnant woman's body needs folic acid most of all in the first month after conception, that is, up to 2 weeks of delay, since the neural tube is formed 16-28 days after conception, when the expectant mother sometimes does not even suspect that she is pregnant.

How to prevent folic acid deficiency during pregnancy?

Even before conception (three to six months before it), as well as throughout pregnancy, to prevent developmental disorders in the embryo, a woman should take at least 800 mcg (0.8 mg) of folic acid daily.

Who needs to take folic acid?

Folic acid is prescribed to all pregnant women, regardless of the nature of their diet. If a woman has already given birth to a child with such a defect in the past or there have been cases in her family similar diseases- the dosage of the vitamin must be increased to 4 mg per day. Developmental defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate can also be a consequence of vitamin B9 deficiency in pregnant women.

Is it possible to have too much folic acid?

If the dose taken significantly exceeds the daily requirement for folic acid, the kidneys begin to excrete it unchanged. 5 mg of folic acid taken orally is excreted from the body after 5 hours.

How much folic acid to take during pregnancy? Norm of folic acid when planning pregnancy

The limitation of the prophylactic dose of folic acid to 400 mcg outside pregnancy and 800 mcg before and during pregnancy is due to the fact that in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency (this is a completely different vitamin!), excess folic acid can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system, since the use of folic acid V large doses ah (5 mg/day) prevents diagnosis pernicious anemia(i.e. vitamin B 12 deficiency) due to the fact that folic acid can reduce neurological manifestations this condition. Thus, folic acid is not the cause of pernicious anemia, but interferes with timely diagnosis.

What dose of folic acid should I take before and during pregnancy?

Not less than 0.8 mg - this dose is not questioned in any country in the world. Moreover, modern research They say that the preventive effect of congenital malformations is enhanced when taking large doses of folic acid - 3-4 mg per day. This is the dose of folic acid that should be taken by pregnant women who do not have the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, that is, by those who also take “pregnant” multivitamins. So, look at how much folic acid is in your multivitamins and increase the dose to 3-4 mg, evenly distributing the intake of folic acid along with meals throughout the day.

How much is it in tablets?

Folic acid is usually sold in a dosage of 1 mg = 1000 mcg. That is, the minimum dose is 800 mcg - slightly less than one tablet. But, given that many doctors recommend taking 3-4 mg when planning, it’s definitely not worth breaking off a small piece :)

Should men take folic acid?

Since folic acid plays a huge role in cell development, folic acid deficiency in men can reduce the number of healthy sperm. Therefore, several months before conception (at least three), a man should start taking folic acid in a dose no less than prophylactic - 0.4 mg.