Can Folat Helps prevent the occurrence of congenital Disabled At Baby?

Folat is one type of vitamin B generally lack folat is megaloblastic the occurrence of anemia, the blood cells will swell, but can not bind oxygen, so that people easily feel tired, weak and listless. Folat increased needs, especially during pregnancy. Lack of folat can cause congenital defects in babies born as oral cavity / harelip, low birth weight babies, miscarriage, down `s syndrome, humans tube defects (NTD).

NTD is a congenital defect in the nerve spinal marrow where the nerve vessel can not be close to perfect. This process usually occurs at about day 28 after conception. Several types of NTD are:

Spina bifida: spine does not close

Anencepahly: no dome of the skull or the brain shrink and is very attached to the skull base (90% of NTD cases)

Encephalocele: brain inflammation (10% of NTD cases)

NTD patients who may be living as a result of NTD throughout his life, including paralysis, can not control the discharge urine, and the ability to study interference.

NTD can occur due to genetic or environmental factors. The relationship between NTD and folat first raised 30 years ago. Based on the results of research that has been done, it is estimated that around 50? 70% of cases of NTD can be prevented if mothers consume folar acid before pregnancy to the first 4 weeks of pregnancy.

Based on the results of research, a suggestions has been made, about the number of folat acid that must be consumed each day to reduce the occurrence of NTD cases, namely:

Fertile age for women in general are encouraged to consume folat acid at least as much as 400 g (microgram) each day. This is because 95% of children born with NTD cases come from the mother does not have a history of NTD or had not delivered the baby with the previous case BTD.

For women who had delivered a baby with NTD cases are required to consume an additional 400 g folat acid every day. If they are planning a pregnancy, the consumption of folat acid must be added to 4000 g (4 mg) per day. This is useful to prevent the cases of NTD in infants who were born later. Some research indicates that the repeated of NTD cases much lower in women who have additional Feed folat acid. Research conducted by the British Medical Research Council (MRC) showed that the repeated of NTD case in the groups that receive additional folat acid is 72% lower than the group that did not receive additional folat acid.

Folat acid consumption appropriate the recommended amount can be achieved in different ways, ie through consumption of food daily, consume additional tablet of folat acid or foods that enriched with folat acid.

1. Consumption of food a day-to-day, folat source food include nuts, fruits, green vegetables and the most high folat content is the cow heart. However, the average of folat including in food is low, to achieve the recommended amount of consumption that is needed quite a lot. In addition, folat on the natural food is generally unstable and easily damaged heating / storage or concoction that is too long. Thus, the consumption of food a day-to-day reliable difficult to reduce the occurrence of NTD in general.
2. Consume additional tablets (supplements) of folat acid. The advantage of folat acid supplements are able to specifically target women fertile age, pregnant women, or women who are planning a pregnancy with the amount of folat acid the right in accordance with the recommended amount. However, not many women who consume folat acid supplements because of lack of knowledge and awareness to consume it regularly. A survey in 1999 showed that although many pregnant women know that folat can reduce the risk of the occurrence of NTD in infants who were born, only a few among those who consume supplements to folat before the first month of pregnancy.
   
   Other problem is the fact that 50% of pregnancies in many countries are not usually planned. Thus, pregnancy is generally a new note after the first months of pregnancy, which is important for the formation of the brain and spinal marrow nerve.
3. Food that enriched with folat acid. Addition of folat acid on several food is the policy of several countries to reduce the occurrence of NTD cases. A food that is usually added with folat acid is a basic food (bread, cereals), wheat flour / grain, or milk. However, because the foods are consumed by the public in general, the number of folat acid is added to the staple food, or flour is usually very limited. In the United States and Canada many folat acid is added to the wheat flour / wheat can increase folat acid feed of 80-100 g per day in the fertile age of women who become the main target, but not cause excess of folat acid on the general public.

The addition of folat acid in milk targeted specifically to women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy can be given in accordance with the amount recommended. So when consumed regularly serving appropriate suggestions to meet the needs of folat acid day-to-day amounting to 400 g.

As a conclusion:

Folat acid consumed in early pregnancy can reduce the risk of the occurrence of NTD

Folat acid can help prevent the occurrence of other congenital defects

Women who are planning a pregnancy should consume 400 g of folat acid in a day through supplements or foods that have been enriched / added with folat acid.


source: No ANMUM Newsletter. 01 / 08 / 2003 page 2 - written by Dr
Tim Green, University of Otago, New Zealand