U.S. experts recommend folic acid supplements for women of reproductive age
| NAN-HG-4 Supplements By Vivian Ihechu Lagos, Jan. 16, 2017 (NAN) The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has advised women of reproductive age to take folic acid supplements daily to prevent neural tube defects like Spina bifida.The task force, in its final recommendation published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, also recommends that a folic acid supplement should contain 0.4 to 0.8 milligrams (mg) of folic acid. Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn’t close completely. Also, Folic acid is a form of vitamin B-9, and it is important in the early days of pregnancy. Dr Alex Kemper, a member of the task force, and paediatrician at Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina, U.S. said that the recommendation became imperative to prevent child birth defects. “The recommendation applies to all women who may get pregnant because the vitamin is most important for the earliest days of pregnancy, oftentimes before a woman knows she is pregnant. “ Taking folic acid supplementation can prevent very serious birth defects and it is a safe supplement to take. “It is recommended that any woman who might get pregnant begin taking folic acid supplements daily,’’ Kemper said. According to him, Folic acid reduces the risk for birth defects of a baby’s brain and spine known as neural tube defects. “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force regularly looks at its previous recommendations to make sure the science still supports the previous task force recommendation. “In this case, the task force was able to re-affirm the previous recommendation that any woman who can get pregnant should take folic acid supplements to prevent neural tube defects.’’ Kemper also said that there were multi-vitamins that have the right amount of folic acid in them. “However, you can also get supplements without the other components in there,’’ he said. Also, Dr Joseph Chukwu, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, said in the publication, “everyone needs folic acid, but it is very important for women of reproductive age. “This is because, having enough folic acid in the body before or during pregnancy can prevent some Neural Tube Defects such as Spina bifida and Anencephaly. “The neural tube is the part of a developing baby that becomes the brain and spinal cord. “Spina bifida occurs when a baby’s spinal column does not close to protect the spinal cord and as a result the nerves that control leg movements and other functions do not work. “ Neural Tube Defects happen in the first month of pregnancy, before a woman is even aware that she is pregnant; that is why there has to be enough folic acid in the body before pregnancy occurs.’’ Chukwu also said that the body needs folic acid to aid normal growth and development, as well as to help the body make red blood cells. “I urge women to take folic acid daily; if you do not understand the implications, it is advised that you talk to a medical expert,’’ he said. In her remarks, Dr Jane Eleodi, a clinical dietician said, “One can get folic acid from foods that have been fortified or enriched with folic acid such as cereal, cornmeal, pasta and bread. “Some fruits and vegetables such as leafy dark-green vegetables, spinach, broccoli, beans, asparagus and orange juice are also good sources of folic acid. “However, it is hard to get all the folic acid one needs to get from food; that is why daily intake of multivitamins or supplements are recommended. “Ingesting a multivitamin that has 400 micrograms of folic acid every day and taking a prenatal vitamin that has 600 micrograms of folic acid in it during pregnancy, is advised,’’ she said. (NAN) |