In past years, research has shown that folic acid can help in the prevention of neural-tube birth defects in unborn children. Babies have been born with part of their brain missing, called anencephaly, or with the medical condition spina bifida, in which the spine is actually on the outside of the body.
These are horrifying defects for expectant parents to think of. There are also studies that suggest a lack of vital nutrition during pregnancy is a factor in children being born with Down syndrome as well. What is the link between folic acid and Down Syndrome?
When there is trouble in the metabolism of folic acid, the occurrence of birth defects is far greater. Those babies born to these mothers have been more likely to be born with medical issues and defects.
Down Syndrome may be one of these as well. In these cases, it is even more unfortunate that the human body doesn't manufacture its own supply of this precious B vitamin. Because of this, a supplement of especially folic acid is essential during pregnancy.
Down's Syndrome occurs in children when the chromosome division goes wrong before egg fertilization. Usually, chromosomes come in pairs. There are 23 pairs.
One is from the mother's egg and one is from the father's sperm. In the cases of Down's Syndrome, there is an extra chromosome number 21. Why this one is affected is unclear. However, that will leave 47 chromosomes instead of the normal number of 46. The result is that unborn developing Down's Syndrome.
The addition of folic acid in mothers before and during pregnancy has been successful in the prevention of birth defects. Recent studies have also shown that Down's Syndrome may also be prevented with additional supplementation of this folate.
The best way to get folic acid is through a supplement. Because of how we must cook and store our food, the nutrients levels are greatly reduced, especially in the case of complex B vitamins.
If you are planning to get pregnant or have learned that you already are, then you must make sure that you get an adequate supplement of this important folate into your diet.
Most doctors prescribe a high nutrient prenatal multivitamin for this reason. Mothers should make it a point to take these every day and eat the foods that contain this nutrient.
The exact link between folic acid and Down's Syndrome remains a mystery, but the best thing to do is to make sure that you take a supplement to increase the chances of your unborn child not being affected by neural-tube defects.
If you are pregnant, please contact your doctor before you start any supplementation. If you aren't pregnant, I highly recommend you go with the best natural multivitamin brand you can find. But again, I am not a doctor!
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