Why folic acid is vital for women

Dr Sweta Gupta

Folic acid belongs to the group of vitamins known as B vitamins. It is also a synthetic form of foliate.

Folic acid is highly important for the normal functioning of the body. It assists in some of the major functions of the body such as the production of the DNA, division of cells as well as the amalgamation of the blood cells. Given its importance for the human body, folic acid is included in most of the food and nutrient supplements prescribed by doctors and nutritionists.

While folic acid is important for the body during normal times, for a woman during pregnancy its importance increases manifold. Folic acid is essential for a healthy pregnancy. It plays a major role in the development of a foetus. Experts say that this nutrient is necessary for the healthy progress of a pregnancy.

Additionally, it is critical for the development of the spinal cord and brain of the baby growing inside the womb. The deficiency of folic acid may cause severe disorders such as spina bifida (incomplete spinal cord development) and anencephaly (incomplete brain development).

Folic acid does not just help in the development of certain body parts but also protects the delicate and developing parts of the baby’s body such as the neural tube during the first few weeks of development during pregnancy. This lowers the risk of developing serious birth defects remarkably.

Folic acid supplements are standard for pregnant women and those who plan to become pregnant. Folic acid reduces the risk for birth defects of a baby’s brain and spine — spina bifida and anencephaly — by 50 per cent to 70 per cent. Folic acid may also lower the risk of preeclampsia and early labour.

Therefore, folic acid is a vital nutrient and it must be incorporated in a woman’s diet not just during her pregnancy but even before it.

A healthy diet with foods rich in folic acid is the best way to meet the daily requirement for it for a woman, pregnant or otherwise. 

These are some of the good sources of folic acid which should be the part of the daily diet of any woman:

• Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard
• Orange juice
• Mushrooms
• Certain meats and body parts such as liver or kidney
• Tomato juice
• Prenatal vitamins
• Lentils, beans, nuts

— The writer is senior consultant, Fertility Solutions, Medicover Fertility