Is it useful to take folic acid intermittently?

For women who are preparing for pregnancy, it is very beneficial to eat some folic acid appropriately. It has a good effect on preventing fetal malformations and promoting good development of the fetus. When taking folic acid, you must take it regularly. It is best to start supplementing it in the first three months of pregnancy and continue to supplement it until the last three months of pregnancy. It has a good supplementary effect and can also prevent anemia in pregnant women.

Is it useful to take folic acid intermittently?

It is best to take folic acid at a fixed time. The main function is to prevent fetal neural tube defects. The baby's neural tube closes in the first three months. If the mother lacks folic acid at this time, it will cause congenital neural tube defects in the baby. Therefore, it is generally recommended to start taking folic acid supplements 3 months before pregnancy and at least until 3 months after pregnancy.

Folic acid can also prevent other congenital malformations, prevent anemia, improve baby's immunity, promote milk secretion, prevent chronic cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, prevent Alzheimer's disease, reduce and prevent breast cancer and cervical cancer, etc. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and will not accumulate in the human body, so it can be taken for a long time, as long as the daily amount does not exceed 1 mg. For normal people, 0.4 mg a day is enough, and for pregnant women, 0.6~0.8 mg is enough. As long as you choose a safe and reliable brand, there will be no problem.

The main functions of folic acid are:

1. Prevent anemia in pregnant women: The body of a pregnant woman needs folic acid to produce normal red blood cells. The survey shows that the prevalence of anemia among Chinese women of childbearing age is 20.6%. Insufficient folic acid intake may also cause anemia in pregnant women.

2. Prevent congenital malformations in babies: Reduce the risk of birth defects in babies. Taking folic acid tablets can prevent birth defects such as congenital heart disease in the fetus.

3. Prevent neural tube defects: Neural tube defects are common congenital malformations in newborns in China. If women take the recommended daily dose of folic acid at least one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy, they can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in their baby by 50%-70%.

4. Promote placental development: It affects the basic structure of DNA and cells. Therefore, getting enough folic acid is particularly important for the rapidly growing placenta and baby.

5. Preventing preeclampsia in pregnant women: Taking multivitamins containing folic acid can reduce the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women.