Folic acid is a vitamin of the B complex (vitamin B9), necessary for the smooth growth and metabolism of cells (it participates as tetrahydrofolic acid in the synthesis of nucleic acids and in cell division) and as a coenzyme in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines.

In this way, it becomes a key factor in the formation of the Central Nervous System of the fetus, which develops between the 15th and 28th day after conception!

The intake of folic acid before conception, during pregnancy, lactation, as well as the first months of the newborn's life is of great importance.

Of course, many gynecologists as well as the American Academy of Gynecology recommend that women take folic acid supplements even 6 months before conceiving.

This is because the lack of folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy may cause genetic abnormalities of the nervous system, the best known of which is spina bifida.

Don't worry though!

Natural sources of folic acid are dark green leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach), broccoli, bananas, orange juice, nuts (peanuts), pasta, cereals, legumes, beans, i.e. foods found in koron in the Greek diet.

To avoid borderline folate deficiency, it is advisable to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

So, if you were following a proper and balanced diet, you will probably already have received the necessary amount of folic acid that you will need in your pregnancy.

To give you a rough idea of the amounts, half a cup of rice, either unhusked (brown rice) or fortified white rice, contains more than 10% of our daily requirement of folic acid.

Folic acid and pregnancy

400μg is the daily recommended dose by national and international health authorities for the prevention of neural tube defects in the general population.

For folic acid that comes from food (natural forms of folate) there are no upper levels of intake.

On the contrary, for synthetic folic acid for children and adults there are upper intake levels (tolerable upper intake level) which are 1000μg/day.

Folic acid is generally considered safe.

Administration of high doses greater than 1000μg/day (over 1mg/day) should be avoided under normal conditions!

The recommended intake levels of synthetic folic acid are, for the non-pregnant woman 400μg/day, for the pregnant woman 600μg/day and for the lactation period 500μg/day. (SOURCE: Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board).

A higher dose is recommended for women:

• • • Who have already given birth to a child with dysplasia (history)
    • Who take antiepileptic drugs
    • With type 2 diabetes
    • With sickle cell anemia
    • Carrying mutations in enzymes related to folate metabolism.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that, in addition to neural tube defects, other conditions associated with folic acid deficiency are recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation (IUGR), and preterm birth.

Sources:

1) EUROCAT 

2) CDC The prevention of neural tube defects with folic acid

3) Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health