Folic Acid in Pregnancy: Essential Facts and Why Is It Important?
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Folic acid is a form of Vitamin B9 that has immense importance in maternity and generally for ensuring the overall health of pregnant women. Folic acid vitamins are important in the formation of red blood cells and it supports the neural development of the fetus. With maternal health still considered one of the greatest public health concerns in India, supplementing with folic acid specially during pregnancy holds additional importance in preventing birth defects while ensuring healthier pregnancies.
Why is Folic Acid Important During Pregnancy?
Folic acid is used for preventing NTDs in the developing fetus. The two most serious birth defects of the spine, spinal cord, or brain are collectively called neural tube defects. The two most common defects of the neural tube are spina bifida, in which the spinal cord does not develop properly, and anencephaly, in which parts of the brain are absent. Both spina bifida and anencephaly often result in death or lifelong disability.
Consuming adequate folic acid vitamins before and during the early stages of pregnancy can prevent up to 70% of these defects. Besides that, folate for pregnancy helps in the healthy development of the heart, bones, and tissues of the baby.
Folic Acid Deficiency in India
Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy has also posed a continuous problem in India, where most women do not get the adequate folate amount recommended either before or during pregnancy. Some of the major barriers contributing to the problem include inadequate nutrition, lack of awareness, and inaccessible prenatal supplements.
In India, deficiencies in the intake of folic acid among women of reproductive age are commonly found in the form of poor nutrition, lack of awareness, and access to healthcare. A glance through current statistics:
● Folic Acid Supplementation: According to a Research Gate, despite supplementation with folic acid during antenatal care, the prevalence of folate deficiencies in pregnant women was reported to range from 17.5% to 29.4% in India. This high prevalence puts newborns at risk of neural tube defects.
● Neural Tube Defects: According to NCBI, the estimated prevalence of neural tube defects in India is around 4.5 per 1,000 births. Moreover, an estimated 1.3 per 1,000 births were found to have orofacial clefts, indicating a huge gap in intake and the preventive role of folic acid.
● Folic Acid Benefit Awareness: A survey amongst obstetricians in Delhi showed that while 100% of them were aware of folic acid, only 63% knew it prevented birth defects, and only 30% appreciated it was important before pregnancy. This itself reflects a critical need for better education regarding health supplementation and supplementation guidelines.
Government Efforts and Fortification
According to these alarming statistics, the Government of India has been trying to enhance maternal health and reduce birth defects. The National Health Mission promotes awareness regarding the importance of supplementation with folic acid; moreover, folic acid tablets have been made available by public health programs.
Also, FSSAI has been promoting the fortification of staple foods such as rice and wheat with this amino acid. Fortification tries to reach a greater percentage of the population, especially in rural areas where folate supplementation might not be provided.
Recommended Folic Acid Intake for Pregnant Women in India
The WHO recommends that all women of child-bearing age have a dietary allowance of 400 mcg/day, while pregnant women should receive 600 mcg, to prevent birth defects. In India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has suggested the administration of iron and folic acid supplementation three months before conception for the entire first trimester.
Raising Awareness and Enhancing Accessibility
What is rather evident, though, is how much more needs to take place to ensure that pregnant women in India receive the necessary quantity of folic acid. For example, governmental policies like the NHM are fantastic strides forward; however, to further commit to success, education and outreach must be provided. Women need to be better informed about the advantages of folic acid supplements and how they can add it to their diets, particularly in rural areas.
Supplementing the public health system with folic acid, along with fortifying food products, can greatly reduce the incidences of NTDs in newborn children. Investment in maternal health, particularly through raising awareness and supplementing mothers with folic acid, will be one of the ways the development of India will improve its state of public health.
The question that now arises is that what form of supplementation should be consumed by a women trying to conceive so that her body accurately gets the right amount of folic acid needed before and during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The Right Supplementation
The prevalence of folic acid tablets and capsules in the supplementation market is not a new thing. They have been around for a long time. However, the question that still remains to be resolved it that, have these supplement forms been successful in delivering micronutrition, the right bioavailability and the needed results?
The answer is something we all are aware about. Even after consuming dozens of tablets many women have noticed nil to very less changes in their folate levels. It was during such health crisis that a health revolution was born.
Vitonnix health supplements, a revolutionalised form of wellness supplementation taken via the sublingual route. Sublispray products that are modelled on sublingual technology, which delivers nutrients under the tongue, thereby passing the digestive system, directly entering the bloodstream and ensuring higher absorption.
The Result ?
- Micronutrition delivered
- Bioavailability achieved
- Nutrient loss minimised
- Better results on the way
Vitonnix Folic Acid Sublingual Spray
Vitonnix Folic Acid Sublispray® is designed to support pregnancy with fast, reliable absorption through advanced sublingual spray technology and delivery of sublingual vitamins. Instead of being swallowed, it is sprayed under the tongue, where folic acid is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing digestion, which can be compromised during pregnancy due to nausea or reduced absorption.
Folic acid oral spray ensures higher bioavailability, helping maintain optimal folate levels that are crucial for neural tube development in the first trimester. This folate pregnancy supplement is vegan-friendly, gentle on the stomach, easy to use, and ideal for women who struggle with tablets, making it a smart, modern choice for daily prenatal folic acid support. It supports more dependable folate availability when maternal demands are high. Overall, it provides a convenient, effective, and pregnancy-friendly way to meet recommended folic acid needs.
Conclusion
Folic acid is highly important in pregnancy, for the well-being of the child and that of the mother. With the prevalence of NTDs at alarming rates in the country and low supplementation with folic acid, the need for awareness, education, and access to supplements is huge.
Indeed, a very commendable job has been done by the government in advocating for folic acid consumption; yet, much remains to be accomplished if every pregnant woman is to receive appropriate care and nutrition. To deliver this level of care and ensure the right nutrition during pregnancy, Vitonnix Folic Acid Sublispray® stands out as one of the most effective and reliable choices available.