How to take folic acid when planning to take it

Birth healthy baby– true happiness for every parent. That is why preparation for pregnancy is the main step to achieving such happiness. Planning allows the expectant mother to prepare for the upcoming period of bearing a child, replenish the lack of vitamins and “improve” her health.

Folic acid during the planning period of the baby is one of essential elements to improve the health of a woman’s body. But only if you take it correctly. How to take folic acid correctly when planning pregnancy, how much, in what dosage and is it needed for men's health? You will get answers to all these questions in one article - read on!

Folic acid - natural vitamin, but it is not synthesized in the human body independently. This vitamin is called vitamin B9. Note that it has a water-soluble structure, that is, the body does not require additional enzymes to break it down.

Main beneficial properties vitamins are:

• Thanks to acid, new cells are formed in the body. Cell division under the influence of vitamin B9 is accelerated, thus the renewal process occurs faster, so new healthy cells begin to appear in the body.
• Acid activates the immune system, blocking an attack on the body by external aggressors, thus helping our immune system in the fight against viruses and bacteria.
• Folic acid improves performance circulatory system thanks to its ability to renew cells. Particles of our blood begin to move more actively, preventing the appearance of blood clots and stagnation.
• The vitamin activates the full development of organs, tissues and internal systems body, and also contributes to the rapid renewal of human tissues and mucous membranes.

In general, the benefits of using of this vitamin It is very difficult to evaluate, since it is multifaceted.

It should be noted that there are also derivatives of the acid in question (various double, triple glutamates and other derivatives), which are also beneficial for the body and are usually used in combination with the acid. All these derivatives are called folates.

Vitamin thanks to its medicinal properties, which has a direct effect on the female body, has another name: “women’s vitamin”.

Very important process V first trimester of pregnancy is the correct development of the rudiments of the fetal nervous system, since this system promotes the full development of organs and tissues of the baby. Deviation in the development of this system entails Negative consequences for the health of the unborn baby, starting from delay general development, and ending with various congenital diseases arising due to poor nutrition and blood supply during this period of development.

In that a wonderful assistant for a woman, it is a female vitamin that normalizes the functioning of the body, accelerates the process of cell division, thins the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots, and therefore normalizes the blood supply to the neural tube, allowing it to perform its functions in full. During pregnancy planning, the vitamin also has only positive influence on the woman’s body, preparing it for the upcoming conception.

However, you should also not overuse this vitamin. Excessive use folic acid may have negative impact on the level of health of the body and its functional systems.

Indications for taking an additional source of this vitamin can only be a doctor’s recommendation, since otherwise it will not provide any benefit, but only cause harm. The main negative consequences of a constant excess of vitamin B9 may be the following:

• Under constant exposure to excess folic acid, our the immune system receives a signal to suspend its own activities immune cells, since they acquire their main activity directly under the influence of this vitamin. Thus, the functionality of immune cells atrophies and does not work independently. This means that the blockade of our body from viruses and bacteria coming from outside is broken. On this basis, very often with an excess of this vitamin, diseases such as cancer and various tumor neoplasms appear.
• The same thing happens with the circulatory system; later, if there is an excess of folic acid, the cells do not want to actively move on their own, and a certain dependence on this vitamin arises. In this regard, the functional activity of blood cells atrophies, which subsequently causes blood clots and various diseases of the circulatory system (for example, hypertension).

It has been revealed that women during menopause accumulate great amount not produced vitamin B9, which negatively affects their health, causing cancer and tumor diseases to a greater extent.

How to take folic acid when planning pregnancy

There are three options for entering the body women's vitamin:

• In the process of assimilation of food, the vitamin comes through the foods consumed;
• During the digestive tract, in the process of digestion, the vitamin is produced and subsequently enters the structural components of the body;
• Consumption of additional sources of female vitamin content in the form of drugs and supplements.

The myth that the body healthy person does not produce the required amount of female vitamin - not true. To an ordinary person with full proper nutrition The amount of this vitamin you receive is quite sufficient. However, a pregnant woman still needs an additional source of the female vitamin for the full and timely development of the fetus.

Important! Take vitamins only as directed and under supervision qualified specialist or at least after consulting with him. Do not engage in self-medication and unnecessary prevention, as you can cause irreparable damage to your health.

In preparation for the birth of a child, taking a women's vitamin is very important. It provokes the production of new healthy cells that carry healthy hereditary information. This information is key for the full intrauterine development of the baby.

When planning pregnancy, folic acid in the form of various supplements and preparations should supplement healthy eating women. The need for additional intake of a women's vitamin is associated with the increased metabolism of a pregnant woman. During this period, the usual use of this vitamin is not enough, since for the developing intrauterine fetus an additional dose is required, which can only be replenished with the use of special preparations containing a female vitamin.

When should I take it? Additional intake of special supplements and medications must be started several months before the planned conception. The dosage of folic acid when planning pregnancy should not be spontaneous, but should be prescribed by a doctor. This is due to individual characteristics future mother.

What is the dosage of folic acid when planning pregnancy?? In case of smoking, drinking alcohol, hormonal abnormalities, intestinal dysfunction, taking hormones and drugs based on them (especially oral contraceptives) an increased dose of the female vitamin is required.

At in good condition body of a woman, the daily dose when planning should be no more than 0.4 mg. During pregnancy, the doctor may prescribe an increased dose, for example, 0.8 - 1 mg per day.

A competent doctor will be able to prescribe the required dose only after providing the results of an examination of the woman’s body. The dose is prescribed individually, depending on physical condition body. So some women may be prescribed an increased dose, and some, on the contrary, a reduced one. Therefore, self-administration of medications containing an additional source of the female vitamin is strictly prohibited.

It is necessary to take an additional source of vitamin in the morning an hour after breakfast for its best absorption. However, your doctor will help you properly organize the use of these medications, taking into account your individual characteristics.

An acid overdose is unlikely. Due to the fact that the vitamin is completely water-soluble and is excreted from the body within 24 hours, to overdose on a female vitamin you need to take at least 40 - 50 tablets of such a drug, which is impossible for a sane person to do.

However, an excess of the female vitamin is still possible. He can provide bad influence on the condition of the unborn baby:

• Provoke immunodeficiency abnormalities in the fetus;
• Serve as a catalyst for problems in the development of the circulatory and nervous systems of the developing fetus, as it blocks the independent activity of cells and atrophies their functionality;
• In addition, an excess of the female vitamin in the expectant mother sometimes provokes an upset stomach, accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, as well as liver dysfunction, improper functioning of the circulatory system, irritability.

Therefore, taking an additional source of female vitamin during preparation for pregnancy and the very state of gestation should be carried out consciously, under the supervision of a qualified specialist.

It should be noted that taking medications containing the female vitamin does not have a toxic effect. That is, even in increased doses, products containing the vitamin cannot release or provoke the release of toxins into the body.

So, you already know how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy, but let’s note the possibility of allergic reactions in the form of rash, asthma, redness, itching. If, after taking the drug, you notice one of the above symptoms, be sure to contact a specialist and report this for further dose adjustment or replacement of the drug taken.

Therefore, only your attending physician can accurately tell you how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy, as well as the required dose.

Do men need folic acid when planning pregnancy?

On this question You can answer unequivocally: of course, it is necessary.

The use of such remedies for men should be considered in two directions:

• if the man is completely healthy,
• if a man has deviations in the functional state of the body.

Then the question arises: why should an absolutely healthy man take an additional source of the female vitamin? Everything is very simple, when a female vitamin is consumed in the male genital organs, sperm begin to move more actively, “sick” and defective sperm die. The influence of the female vitamin on the formation of new cells in a man’s body makes it possible to “treat” the structure of hereditary characteristics of transmitted DNA and RNA molecules.

Thus, if a man spent preventive measures By taking medications containing a female vitamin, the possibility of a “sick” sperm entering a woman’s egg during the process of conception is excluded. So healthy man After taking the women's vitamin, she will be able to conceive a healthy and healthy child. However, the dosage should still be agreed with a specialist.

If a man has any abnormalities in functional state body, in particular problems with conception, ejaculation, sperm activity during sexual intercourse, etc., then a mandatory intake of a women’s vitamin is required, but only after consultation with a specialist. With such deviations, it is the female vitamin that can help a man solve existing problems. Therefore, in the process of preparing for conception, a man also needs to pay attention to his health.

How to get folic acid

Almost all healthy food is a source of women's vitamin. Its high content is observed in various meat products, also fish products, animal products, herbs, legumes, grains, fruits, vegetables.

Due to the fact that the female vitamin is also synthesized by our intestines, consumption fermented milk products, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli increase percentage production of this element by the body.

Note that temperature and direct sunlight are detrimental to the women’s vitamin; under their influence, it disintegrates. Therefore it is best plant foods use in fresh. Note that meat, even during processing, retains its share of this vitamin.

It is useful to eat freshly squeezed juices. Also, animal liver has the maximum content of this vitamin compared to other products, so its use is very useful during the period of planning a baby.

Among medicines containing female vitamin are:

• "Folic acid". The content of each tablet is 1 mg of the main component. This dose is sufficient for women
• Apo-Folik and Folacin. General content component per tablet 5 mg. Note that this is a large dose for a woman.
• "Folio". The drug consists of two components of female vitamin and iodine combined into a single whole. The content of women's vitamin is only 0.4 mg. Therefore, the drug is not enough to compensate for the deficiency of folic vitamin.
• Special vitamin complexes for women during the period of pregnancy under consideration. These include, for example, Elevit Prenatal, Complivit, and others.

But only a doctor can prescribe specific medications!

Vitamin B9 in the form of special and fortified products is best absorbed by the human body, in contrast to its regular consumption in food. However, it is also possible to use food additives with the necessary content of this vitamin.

Watch an entertaining video from Malysheva about folic acid to make sure you need it:

So, today you learned how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy, what benefits it brings to the body, whether the father should take it, as well as what food and additional medications contain the amount of female vitamin necessary for the expectant mother. Expectant mothers need to protect and maintain their level of health, then during pregnancy your child will develop fully and in a timely manner. Therefore, I wish happiness to all expectant mothers and health to their babies!

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is one of the most important elements that is invaluable both for the expectant mother and for the fetus developing inside her. The substance in question takes part in the production of DNA cells and blood elements, reduces the likelihood of developing various types of defects and pathologies, and promotes the formation of a healthy placenta.

After reading the information below, you will find out in what quantities you need to take folic acid and get a generally complete picture of the substance in question.

Folic acid deficiency: why is it dangerous?

During pregnancy, insufficient levels of vitamin B9 maternal body can lead to the development of pathologies of the fetal nervous system, for example, hydrocephalus, and in exceptional cases even anencephaly. Sometimes there are formations of cerebral hernias, problems with the physical and mental development of the baby, etc.

In view of this, folic acid must be present in the body of the expectant mother in sufficient quantities. WITH detailed information You are invited to read more about this further.

Folic acid in questions and answers

To make it easier to understand, information about folic acid is prepared in question and answer format and presented in table form.

Table. Folic acid in questions and answers

How much folic acid to drink: recommended dosages

All over the world, a dosage of 0.8 mg per day is followed. In some cases, the dose can be significantly increased - up to 3-4 mg. It is important to understand that specific values ​​under any circumstances should be selected by a qualified specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Folic acid is sold in tablets, most often containing 1 mg each required substance. That is, one tablet contains a little more than the minimum daily dose. In general, doctors in most cases recommend that women planning pregnancy drink up to 3-4 mg of folic acid per day, so there will be no problems with the convenience of distributing vitamin B9 throughout the day.

How to take folic acid correctly?

Planning a pregnancy should be approached with maximum responsibility and care.

1. First, both the man and the woman first go through necessary examinations to determine the presence of diseases that pose a threat to future pregnancy.
2. Secondly, at least several months before the planned conception, both future parents must stop smoking - in this case, this habit is doubly harmful, because Under the influence of nicotine, the structure of folic acid is destroyed. We also exclude alcohol.
3. Thirdly, you need to get rid of any kind acute inflammation and infections, treat chronic ailments, eliminate oral problems.

Now directly about folic acid. According to the results necessary tests, a specialist who helps a couple plan a pregnancy, establishes the need to take vitamin B9 and makes objective assumptions about its effect on the health of the developing fetus. In accordance with the individual characteristics of a particular couple, the doctor selects the optimal dosage of folic acid. In the future, the specialist will definitely prescribe additional consultations and examinations, based on the results of which the dosage of folic acid will be changed if necessary.

As noted, folic acid should be started at least 3 months before planned conception. Thanks to this, not only will the likelihood of successful fertilization be increased, but also the chances of having a full-fledged child without abnormalities will be significantly increased.

Can you get folic acid from food?

The substance in question is found in some products. It is relatively abundant in foods such as beans, citrus fruits, chicken eggs, sorrel, nuts, oatmeal, sea fish, buckwheat, spinach, cilantro, dill, almonds, cheese, liver and kidneys (chicken, beef, pork). It is recommended to cook the liver so that it is not overly fried. Greens are best eaten as fresh salads– with additional cooking, the concentration of folic acid decreases significantly.

In general, experts recommend that future parents eat foods containing folic acid every day, but it is better to discuss diet issues in each specific case with a doctor individually.

Thus, timely, regular and correct intake of folic acid helps to significantly increase the chances of successful conception and reduce the risk of fetal development pathologies. Your doctor will select the optimal dosage of vitamin B9 and dosage regimen for you.

Hello everyone! Today I bought folic acid about which I heard a lot of interesting things)))) (regular without additives, dosage of 1 ml per table), whoever drank it, please tell me how to take it for me and my husband. Thank you in advance!!!

For those who don’t know anything about it, I’m attaching an interesting text:

What are the benefits of folic acid for pregnant women?

The particular importance of folic acid for pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant is due to the fact that it forms the neural tube in the fetus and prevents its developmental defects. The most common neural tube defects are:

• brain herniation, in which brain tissue protrudes into the skin due to an abnormal divergence of the skull;
• spina bifida, with incomplete closure of the spinal cord;
• Anencephaly is a profound underdevelopment of the brain.

All these defects in the fetus can appear during the first 16-28 days of pregnancy, that is, even before the woman realizes that she is pregnant. That is why, when planning to become pregnant, it must be present in the body in sufficient quantities. The role of vitamin B9 is also important for the production of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is responsible for the growth and development of cells and tissues, and for the formation of a normal placenta in a pregnant woman.

Even the most ardent opponents of taking artificial supplements during pregnancy recognize the importance of taking folic acid during this period. Taking vitamin B9 will protect you and your child from quite serious problems.

Vitamin E is prescribed simultaneously with folic acid when planning pregnancy. It helps stabilize the condition cell membranes, helps protect intracellular structures from the aggressive influence of the external environment. Vitamin E can improve sexual function in both women and men, restore hormonal imbalance and ensure the production of progesterone and estrogens. It has a beneficial effect on reproductive function human body, which is responsible for the process of conceiving and bearing a child. In addition, vitamin E strengthens the body of a pregnant woman, maintains her normal hormonal background and functioning of the placenta. Taking this vitamin reduces the risk of miscarriage to a minimum.

Folic acid and other vitamins and microelements enter the body with a balanced diet. In addition, when planning pregnancy, folic acid and vitamin E are also recommended in the form of complex preparations that should be taken additionally.

Vitamin B9 in food

The presence of folic acid in the greatest number found in green plant leaves. This is where its name came from: “folium” means “leaf” in Latin. Rich in this vitamin following products: lettuce and spinach, beans, parsley and green pea, carrots, nuts and barley, mushrooms, pumpkin and melon, buckwheat and oats. Also great content folic acid is typical for citrus fruits, bananas, avocados and asparagus. Among animal products, liver is richest in vitamin B9. In cheeses, meats, fish, milk and egg yolk it is also present, but in smaller quantities. It is thanks to the consumption of products plant origin, vegetarians are not deficient in vitamin B9. But it must be remembered that about 85-90% of folic acid is destroyed during the heat treatment of these products. Therefore, additional intake of this element in the form of tablets or as part of a multivitamin is recommended.

Preparations containing vitamin B9

IN pharmaceutical drugs Folic acid is contained in preventive or therapeutic doses, so taking it must be agreed with your doctor so as not to harm yourself and your unborn child.

1. 1. Folic acid in tablets, B9 content – ​​1 mg. This is the most optimal dosage and a pregnant woman only needs one tablet per day to fully satisfy her need for folic acid. But given the common occurrence of hypovitaminosis, which may not appear at first, three tablets per day are prescribed in preparation for conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy. There will be no overdose of vitamin B9 from such a dose, but its deficiency can lead to very serious problems.
2. 2. - 5 mg. AT 9. This dosage significantly exceeds the body's needs. This amount of vitamin will not cause any particular harm, since the excess will quickly be eliminated from the body (B vitamins are water-soluble and are washed out of the body along with the excreted fluid).
3. 3. Apo-folic - 5 mg. folic acid. This, again, is not a prophylactic dose, but a therapeutic one, and drugs of this type are prescribed only by a doctor in cases of severe folic acid deficiency; they should not be taken without consulting a doctor.
4. 4. Folio: B9 - 400 mcg, iodine - 200 mcg. This drug contains 2 essential microelements, and there is no need for additional iodine supplementation. The dosage of vitamin B9 here is preventive and covers the needs of the pregnant woman and the fetus, unless there is a deficiency of folic acid or other factors that increase the need for this vitamin.

In addition to the above drugs, folic acid is also found in multivitamins for pregnant women: in Pregnavit - 750 mcg, in Vitrum prenatal, Vitrum prenatal forte - 800 mcg and in Elevit - 1000 mcg. Thus, all multivitamin complexes contain a preventive dosage of vitamin B9, therefore, in the absence of its deficiency, additional intake of other folic acid preparations is not required.

Folic acid is prescribed when planning pregnancy, usually 3-4 months before the moment when young people are ready to conceive a baby. This increases the chances of conception itself, and the likelihood of having a healthy child after 9 months.

Consequences of folic acid deficiency in the female body

Folic acid is accumulated by the body in the liver, white blood cells and red blood cells. But it is contained in these organs in small quantities. The result of its deficiency is observed within a month after restriction of intake. And after a few months, due to a lack of vitamin B9, folate deficiency anemia develops, as the process of red blood cell formation is disrupted bone marrow. As a result, immature red blood cells appear in the blood, and hemoglobin levels decrease.

Lack of folic acid is one of the most common types of hypovitaminosis in both pregnant women and newborns. Folic acid deficiency in the mother is inherited by the fetus, and subsequently by the newborn baby due to a lack of this vitamin in breast milk. Lack of folic acid during planning and during pregnancy can provoke such negative consequences as:

• partial or complete detachment of the placenta;
• spontaneous termination of pregnancy (miscarriage);
• stillbirth;
• the presence of congenital defects in the child;
• delay in the child’s mental and mental development;
• anemia, toxicosis, depression, aching pain at the woman's feet.

A deficiency of folic acid in the body may not manifest itself visible symptoms. With folate deficiency anemia, the number of red blood cells noticeably decreases, and their functions are impaired, since they leave the bone marrow immature. This causes symptoms such as irritability, loss of appetite, fast fatiguability and depression, after some time these symptoms are joined by diarrhea, vomiting and severe loss hair. Changes also appear skin and sores in the throat and oral cavity. And when a combination of folic acid deficiency and hypertension in a pregnant woman increases the risk of complicated childbirth.

Contraindications for taking folic acid supplements

Folic acid should not be used for bronchial asthma, renal failure, pyelonephritis and allergic reactions. Sometimes an inadequate reaction of the body to this drug occurs: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, seizures and severe pain in a stomach. In such cases, the need to take and dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor.

Folic acid is also not prescribed for B12-deficiency anemia, since it neutralizes vitamin B12 in the body and only contributes to worsening general condition pregnant.

Folic acid for men's health

An interesting fact, a kind of “side” effect, is the statement of some scientists that taking folic acid when planning pregnancy almost doubles the likelihood of having twins in a pair.

Gynecologists assure: taking folic acid when planning pregnancy is extremely important for both spouses, because it improves the quality of germ cells and helps the fetus to develop properly. It is important to take it before and after conception, so knowing how to drink it is useful for every woman.

Does folic acid help you get pregnant?

Doctors say that folic acid before pregnancy, taken in the form of special medications or through products containing it, does not help get pregnant, because its purpose is different. It helps improve the quality of eggs and sperm by stimulating the synthesis of essential nucleic acids. B9 promotes better assimilation of others useful substances, increases hematopoietic function, affects the formation of the fetus. In an “interesting situation” it should be used so that the baby does not have:

• defects and abnormalities of the brain;
• epilepsy;
• allergies.

Do men need folic acid when planning pregnancy?

According to experts, not only women need folic acid before pregnancy. It is recommended for family planning and for men, because its benefit lies in the normal formation of sperm, the quality of which is responsible for the onset of conception and the health of the future fetus. If a woman needs to use folacin during preparation and during pregnancy, then men can stop using it as soon as the couple finds out about positive test. The doctor prescribes the medicine.

What foods contain folacin?

If you are concerned about how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy, you do not have to turn to medication. The following foods will help compensate for its deficiency:

• leafy greens: dill, sorrel, cilantro, spinach;
• legumes;
• citrus;
• buckwheat and oats;
• Walnut, almonds;
• liver, offal.

For better absorption, it is recommended to consume plant-based vitamin products, rich in folacin, without culinary processing. Animal sources allow minimal exposure to temperature. Conditions are observed to reduce the loss of folacin, which is destroyed by heat to a level of 90%. It is recommended to eat nutrient-rich foods every day, and you can eat sea ​​fish, cheese, chicken eggs, which contain slightly less active substance than those listed, but are necessary in the diet.

How to take folic acid when planning pregnancy

At the stage of preparation for pregnancy, only the doctor determines how to drink folic acid correctly. The appointment will depend on chronic diseases, bad habits, test results. The standard dosage is to take the drugs in tablet form one quarter before conception. A dose of 40 milligrams per day is recommended for a man, and twice as much for a woman. Excess or overdose of the substance is not dangerous, because the water-soluble vitamin is excreted from the body without side effects.

If one of the parents or other relatives had brain pathologies, then the dosage for a woman during pregnancy will be 2 g per day, and if the first baby of the couple suffers from similar defects, then 4 g. It is better to use this substance after meals, because active ingredients may have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa. The doctor will prescribe the time of use and the number of capsules to be taken by the expectant mother by week.

Vitamins with folic acid when planning pregnancy

You might be wondering how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy. For convenience, it is better to consider the following data on popular medications:

1. Tablets of the same name. They have the most affordable price, very popular. The quality is appreciated by many gynecologists: doctors prescribe the drug to mothers in the amount of 1 tablet (1 mg) per day.
2. Folacin, Apo-folic. Prescribed for severe folacin deficiency in a pregnant woman, because each dose contains 5 mg of the active substance. This drug is prescribed only by a specialist and is considered therapeutic, while others are preventive.
3. Folio. In addition to 0.4 g of vitamin B9, it contains 0.2 g of iodine. For women, it is recommended to take 2 tablets, and for men – 1 tablet daily.
4. Multivitamin complexes Materna, Elevit Prenatal, Vitrum Prenatal, Pregnavit, Multitabs Perinatal. All of them, in addition to B9, which is needed in preparation for conception, contain other useful ingredients.

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