Does taking folic acid cause nausea?

It is also a nutrient necessary for the growth and development of the fetus. If the fetus lacks folic acid during its growth and development, congenital neurovascular malformations will occur. Therefore, many pregnant women will take some folic acid before pregnancy. However, because everyone's physical condition is different, some people will feel nauseous after taking folic acid. What's going on? Let’s take a look together below.

Some people may feel nauseous after taking folic acid. Folic acid can prevent congenital neurovascular malformations in the fetus. Women who are planning to become pregnant are advised to start taking it in the first three months of pregnancy and stop in the third month of pregnancy.

Folic acid is an essential substance for the human body to utilize sugar and amino acids, and is necessary for the growth and reproduction of body cells. In the body, folic acid acts in the form of tetrahydrofolate, which is involved in the synthesis and conversion of purine nucleic acids and pyrimidine nucleotides in the body. Folic acid plays an important role in the production of nucleic acids (RNA, DNA). Folic acid helps the metabolism of protein and, together with vitamin B12, promotes the formation and maturation of red blood cells. It is an indispensable substance for the production of red blood cells. Folic acid also acts as a growth-promoting factor for Lactobacillus casei and other microorganisms.

Folic acid plays an important role in cell division and growth and the synthesis of nucleic acids, amino acids and proteins. A lack of folic acid in the human body can lead to abnormalities in red blood cells, an increase in immature cells, anemia and a decrease in white blood cells. Folic acid is an essential nutrient for fetal growth and development. Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women may lead to low birth weight, cleft lip and palate, heart defects, etc. If there is a lack of folic acid during the first three months of pregnancy, it can cause neural tube defects in the fetus and lead to malformations. Therefore, women who are planning to become pregnant can start taking 100 micrograms to 300 micrograms of folic acid daily before pregnancy.

Importance of folic acid supplementation

1. For expectant mothers, folic acid can prevent anemia in pregnant women. Your body needs folic acid to make 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. For the fetus, folic acid can reduce the risk of birth defects. A large number of studies have shown that taking folic acid can reduce the incidence of major external malformations in newborns by 15%, cleft lip and palate by 30%, and congenital heart disease by 35%, thereby reducing the neonatal mortality rate by 20%.

At the same time, it can also prevent neurovascular defects in newborns, a disease with a high mortality and disability rate. 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 babies by 50% to 70%.

Therefore, when planning pregnancy, women should take folic acid regularly. Once conceived, this can fully meet the fetus's need for B vitamins, which is important for effectively preventing fetal defects and maternal anemia. The early pregnancy is also a critical period for folic acid supplementation, so doctors generally recommend taking folic acid from 3 months before pregnancy and continuing until 3 months after pregnancy.