Expectant mothers who have lower intake of folic acid during the first trimester of their pregnancy have a higher chance of having babies with low birth weight than anyone else. Researchers from University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, had found that increased levels of folic acid or folate are associated with increased birth weights of newborns, and vice versa.
Researchers have examined about 1000 cases of women and their newborns and published their results in the recent edition of British Journal of Nutrition.About one in every thirteen babies have a chance of being of low birth weight and develop detrimental health conditions because of their birth weights. Hence it is essential for the health of the babies that they are born with correct birth weight in order to be healthy.
Physicians often advice taking of folic acid to pregnant women after their first pregnancy check up, and researchers for the study feel that this does not ensure that the expectant mothers get this very important vitamin in the earlier stages of gestation. This is important as this could mean lesser birth weight for the newborns.
Researchers had studied the pregnant ladies and their newborn babies and tested the blood samples of the women, who had also answered a questionnaire regarding their lifestyle information. The team had also collected data on the amount of folate the to-be-mothers had during their pregnancy.
Source: EurekAlert
Medindia on Folic acid: Further information
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