Role of vitamin B9 during pregnancy

What is folic acid?

Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid or folate, plays an important role in the body. It is involved in the production of genetic material, the proper functioning of the nervous system and the immune system, the production of blood cells (white and red) or even at the level of cell renewal.
Vitamin B9 would also contribute to the proper functioning of the menstrual cycle, which can be important when trying to get pregnant. And, during pregnancy, folic acid helps in particular in the formation of the nervous system of the fetus.

Concretely, according to the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (HANDLES), it is estimated that the daily intake of folic acid in a healthy adult over 18 years of age is 330 µg / d. But, for women who want to have a child or who are in the early stages of pregnancy, the intake is higher, around 440 μg / d (the needs may however vary depending on the state of health and the medical history of the child. the future mother).

On the same subject

Why take folic acid before you get pregnant?

If folic acid has an important role for the proper functioning of our body on a daily basis, during conception, the needs are increased in order, in particular, to prevent possible risks of malformations during pregnancy, such as closure anomalies. neural tube (1 in 1000 pregnancies in France).
But this is not the only role of this vitamin: according to a german study, a vitamin B9 supplement could also have a positive impact on ovulation and the proper functioning of the female menstrual cycle as well as on male fertility (the quantity and quality of sperm would be increased). Enough to encourage future parents to consume foods rich in folate more regularly when they plan to have a baby!

Besides, according to INPES (National Institute for Prevention and Health Education), a woman who wants to get pregnant should take folic acid supplementation at least one month before conception (the treatment is usually in the form of capsules). The intake may vary depending on the patient’s history and her state of health (obesity, diabetes, etc.). This is why it is important to consult your doctor or gynecologist as soon as you have a child plan and to talk about taking a folate supplement (often in the form of food supplements) with him.

To find out more, do not hesitate to consult the explanatory brochure “Do you have a baby plan? Think about vitamin B9 now“from INPES

The importance of folic acid during pregnancy

While taking vitamin B9 should therefore begin before the baby has even started talking about it, it is important to continue taking folic acid once pregnancy is confirmed. Concretely, these complementary folate contributions are essential for the proper development and growth of the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy. Folic acid is involved in cell division and the development of a baby’s nervous system.

On the other hand, a vitamin B9 deficiency in pregnant women could notably increase the risks of spina bifida (congenital malformation also called neural tube closure abnormality, linked to poor development of the spine during the first weeks of pregnancy), malformations of the skull or brain of the future baby (encephalocele, anencepaly) or the risk of growth retardation of the child.

Where can I find folic acid? Focus on foods rich in folate

If folic acid is necessary for the proper functioning of our body, it is unfortunately not a vitamin that we make ourselves. We must therefore find it in our food. As one of its names suggests (folate), vitamin B9 is easily found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, parsley, mint, broccoli, chervil or even lettuce (but also its cousins ​​lamb’s lettuce and escarole).

If you are not a fan of green vegetables, rest assured there are other options for consuming folate such as walnuts (as well as hazelnuts, peanuts and almonds), melon, chickpeas, liver (poultry). , cod, veal, lamb…), egg yolk, chestnut flour, sunflower seeds, shallots and brewer’s yeast.
To learn more about foods rich in vitamin B9, do not hesitate to consult thea nutritional composition table of ANSES foods.

Be careful, however, when cooking foods rich in folate: folic acid is indeed sensitive to light, air and heat. It is therefore better to avoid boiling (it escapes into the water) and prefer to eat foods rich in folate raw when possible or cooked optimally!

Finally, in case of deficiency or when the folate needs are greater (as in pregnant women or who wish to have a child), it is also possible to take vitamin B9 in the form of tablets prescribed by a doctor.