When is the best time to take folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic acid tablets are beneficial to pregnant women and their fetuses. The time of taking this kind of nutritional supplement is very important. Some pregnant women take folic acid tablets continuously in the early or mid-pregnancy. In fact, this is not good. So when is the best time to take folic acid tablets during pregnancy? Are there any effects on the fetus?

When is the best time to take folic acid? The Chinese Health Association's 2007 "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" emphasizes that women of childbearing age should take 400 mg of folic acid tablets (equivalent to 1 folic acid tablet) every day starting three months before pregnancy and continue throughout the pregnancy, because the folic acid level in a woman's body cannot be increased in a short period of time after taking the medicine. Because folic acid tablets are irritating to the stomach and will cause discomfort in the stomach, which will inevitably affect the appetite, it is recommended that folic acid be taken thirty minutes after a meal.

Folic acid tablets, also known as vitamin B9, can prevent neural tube defects in the fetus. Folic acid can be supplemented from food. For example, green leafy vegetables and fruits contain relatively high amounts of folic acid. It can also be obtained from medicines. Folic acid deficiency in women preparing to become pregnant can easily affect the development of the baby and even cause premature birth. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to when to take folic acid. If you are planning to get pregnant, you should remember to take folic acid tablets every day to prepare for the birth of a smart baby.

Actively supplementing folic acid tablets during pregnancy can have a positive effect on eugenics, but in fact, excessive folic acid supplementation can also cause a series of adverse effects.

Generally, pregnant women need to take a tablet of folic acid every day. The content of this tablet of folic acid is mostly 0.4 mg, which is sufficient for ordinary people. Although there is a 5mg folic acid tablet on the market, healthy women should not take it to avoid adverse effects, because such large doses of folic acid are generally used for medical purposes.

Pregnant women who take large amounts of folic acid tablets may suffer from physical and mental health problems due to excessive folic acid intake.