New Folic Acid Recommendations

Pregnant women in particular are advised to take a Folic acid supplement.

The positive benefits to expectant mothers for their unborn child of taking Folic Acid supplements is already well established and a Nutrition Research Team at Tuft’s University is taking the lead on recommending that it is time now that the government, in the USA, should ensure that the levels of Folic Acid in some foods are boosted – in order to be certain that mothers to be are getting enough of it.

Pregnant women and Folic Acid?

Folic Acid is simply a manufactured form of Folate, which is a naturally occurring compound found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits and dried beans. More importantly Folate is B vitamin and is therefore vital to our own healthy cell growth; but it is also water-soluble and our bodies are not good at retaining it, meaning that our stores of Folate need regularly replacing. Hence, the recommendation to take a Folic Acid supplement. The significant point for expectant mothers to be is that they need the Folate form the food they eat for their own cell growth, but as they old saying goes they are “eating for two“. That is, the unborn baby also needs a good supply of the B vitamin from Folate for good cell growth itself – meaning that many, if not most, expectant women should be taking Folic Acid supplements. Amongst other things, unborn babies mothers consuming the recommended doses of Folic Acid have reduced incidence of premature births.

What’s the recommended dosage for Folic Acid supplements?

Pregnant women should, of course, always seek the advice of their medical professionals before taking any supplements. However, long agreed guidelines on Folate consumption for non-pregnant women are that they should consume at least 400mg of Folic Acid a day. The US Preventative Services last month suggested that women should actually be taking between 400 and 800mg of Folic Acid, on the basis that not all pregnancies are planned and, in the event of an unexpected pregnancy the woman’s body will be receiving adequate levels of Folic Acid.