Intake of Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy Prevents Birth Defects

Experts have urged pregnant women to take vitamin B12 supplement along with folic acid to prevent their children developing birth defects such as spina bifida.

New research suggests that taking the supplement alongside folic acid will further help prevent the series of birth defects that affect the development of the spine and central nervous system, the Daily Mail reported.

Birth Defects - Structural Defects - Neural Tube Defects - Hypospadias
A structural birth defect means that a specific body part is missing or mal-formed during the embryonic development.

Women who are trying to conceive, or who are in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, are already advised to take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day.

But the charity Shine, which helps individuals and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, is recommending that pregnant women, and those trying to conceive, should take 2.5mcg of B12 once a day with a meal.

It's thought taking vitamin B12 alongside folic acid may be more effective than taking folic acid alone.

Birth Defects - Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment
Birth defects are abnormalities that occur in babies which affect how the body looks, works or both. They can be structural or functional in nature.

The recommendation comes after a new report from a leading authority on the issue, Professor John Scott, founder of the Vitamin Research Unit at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin.

"It is clear that, as well as the addition of a folic acid supplement (400 mcg per day), the addition of a vitamin B12 component of at least 2.5 mcg per day would bring about a further significant and worthwhile risk reduction for neural tube defects," he said.

Vitamin B12 - An Essential Vitamin
If you feel that the persistent or regular incidences of depression have got nothing to do with what you eat, think again. The reason behind low spirits can be due to insufficient levels vitamin B12.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) still affect 1 in 1000 pregnancies in the UK. When taken correctly before and during pregnancy, folic acid could prevent up to 72 percent of these cases.

Scientists worldwide have searched for ways to reduce the risk further, including studying the potential benefits of vitamin B12, which is essential for the body to metabolize folic acid.

Pregnancy and Diet/Diet during Pregnancy – Healthy Foods, Foods to Avoid
Pregnant women should pay special attention to their diet. The diet before and during pregnancy should be rich in calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

This has highlighted a link between low folate and low B12 levels, with some studies suggesting a possible three-fold risk increase for NTDs in women with low levels of B12.

Source-ANI