In plain words
Folic acid is the made form of . It is the form used in most prenatal vitamins and in such as some breads and cereals. The body turns it into folate, which it can use. Folic acid is one of the best-studied nutrients in pregnancy. Starting it before conception, and continuing in early pregnancy, is linked to a lower risk of , which affect the baby's brain and spine. Many prenatal vitamins contain it, but the right amount for you depends on your history, diet, and medications. Ask your provider what they recommend for your situation, and whether a prenatal vitamin is part of your plan.
The deeper version
Folic acid is the oxidized synthetic form of folate and is more bioavailable than food folate. The USPSTF (2023) recommends that women planning or capable of pregnancy use folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, based on randomized and observational evidence and the 1991 MRC trial and subsequent cohort studies. Mandatory fortification of enriched grain products in the United States, from 1998, was associated with substantial declines in neural tube defects. Concerns about in circulation have been studied, with uncertain clinical significance. Dosing recommendations vary by risk group and are set by the issuing guideline.
Where it comes up
- Folate and folic acidPregnancy: Eating
- Eating before you conceiveBefore Pregnancy
- Prenatal vitamins: when to start and what's in themBefore Pregnancy
What mothers here say about folic acid
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Sources
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — Folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects, 2017
- Medical Research Council Vitamin Study Research Group — Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the MRC Vitamin Study. Lancet, 1991