Why women need folic acid
Recent research has shown that women who have a high level of vitamin B9 - folate
or folic acid - before they become pregnant, are less likely to give birth to a
baby with the abnormality known as neural tube defect.
"The neural tube is that part of the developing fetus from which the skull, brain
and spine develop. Defects in this system occur in about 1 in 500 babies. The most
common defect is spina bifida, affecting the lower spine. Other defects include
anencephaly in which the brain does not form properly. Babies with these defects
often die; others have problems with walking and with bowel and bladder control.
It has now been shown that a diet rich in folate, before and in early pregnancy,
will prevent up to 70 percent of these tragedies.
SOURCES OF FOLATE
Folate is found in most plant foods, especially green, leafy vegetables,
whole-grain breads, cereals and legumes (peas, beans and lentils). Cooking and prolonged
storage will destroy the vitamin, so it is best to eat fruit and vegetables that
are fresh, raw or cooked lightly.
Folic acid is also available in tablet form. Ask your doctor about folic acid supplementation.
If you are planning to get pregnant, discuss your diet with your doctor. Be sure
that you are getting plenty of folate to reduce the risk of this rare but serious
problem for your baby.
IN THE DIET
Many foods are naturally rich in folate. But note that folate is
water-soluble and is easily destroyed by cooking. Vegetables are best lightly cooked
or even eaten raw. Cooking by microwave or steaming is best. The following are good
sources of natural folate:
Vegetables
Fruit
Other food products
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Spinach
• Green beans
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Parsnip
• Sweet corn
• Zucchini
• Avocado
• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Legumes
• Chickpeas
• Soya beans
• Lima beans
• Red kidney beans
• Lentils
• Peanuts
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Juices
• Many apple and orange juices
NOT THE WHOLE PICTURE
While folic acid has been shown to help prevent neural tube defects, it is still
not known exactly how it works or what other factors may be involved. Some women
will still find that their babies have a neural tube defect even though they have
taken the recommended level of folic acid.
For women for whom folic acid does have a preventive effect, it is thought that
the problem is not necessarily a deficiency in dietary folic acid but a difficulty
with metabolism at the crucial time for the developing embryo. In these cases the
folic acid works by overcoming a partial block in the metabolism of homocysteine,
an amino acid.
Recent research suggests that a genetic abnormality is at least partly responsible
for this failure of proper metabolism."