According to a national study in 2002, the prevalence of ID, IDA, and ID+IDA among pregnant women in China was 42.6%, 9.1%, and 61.7% respectively. A similar study in Hebei province at the same time showed that the prevalence of IDA among pregnant and lactating mothers was 46.39% and 47.21% respectively. There was a significant difference between urban and rural areas. Women living in rural areas had higher chances of having IDA (p<0.01). WHO and UNICEF recommend taking iron, folic acid and multiple micronutrients during pregnancy. However, we don't know much about their influence on maternal and infant health and their clinical effectiveness. Health Department of China recommends taking 400ug folic acid before pregnancy and during early pregnancy. But for various reasons, not all expecting mothers take this advice. Besides, we don't have a national level technical standard of how to take nutrition supplements during pregnancy. Therefore, it's crucial for us to study if iron/folic acid or folic acid only can prevent perinatal complications, as well as their influences on infant and toddler health. Show The purpose of this study is to test whether taking iron/folic acid and folic acid only from early pregnancy until delivery will lower the chances of pregnancy complications, and to see how supplements affect gestation results. As well, it will evaluate a) whether taking iron supplement during pregnancy can prevent IDA during pregnancy; b) whether taking iron supplement can increase mother and fetus iron storage; and c) how mother's iron level affects newborn's iron level. We hope to understand nutrition conditions during pregnancy and investigate the relations between pregnancy diet and complications during pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, and newborn birth weight. We will evaluate the influence of taking iron and folic acid during pregnancy on the health of infants and toddlers. Detailed Description: Iron deficiency (ID) is the world's most common single nutrient disorder, differentially affecting pregnant women and infants everywhere. The study was conducted in China, a rapidly developing country where ID often occurs among pregnant women and infants in the absence of generalized undernutrition. The study was a collaboration between Peking University First Hospital and three local hospitals (Sanhe Maternity and Child Health Care Center [MCHC], Sanhe General County Hospital, and Sanhe Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Eligible pregnant women were enrolled from June 2009 through December 2011 and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive iron and folic acid or folic acid only. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China. Women were recruited (n=2367) at their first prenatal visit at Sanhe MCHC. Those with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies and first prenatal visits ≤ 20 weeks gestation were invited to participate. Women were randomized and received 2 supplements: iron/placebo and folic acid. Project personnel instructed the participants to take two capsules per day (one of each kind of supplement) from enrollment to delivery. Participants received a 3-month supply of each supplement upon enrollment and at the second study visit (26-30 weeks). The number of doses received and consumed or missed was recorded by project personnel. The primary outcomes were maternal iron status at follow-up visits (26-30 weeks and 36-40 weeks), cord-blood iron status, and infant gestational age and birth weight. Data analysis compares pregnancy iron level between two study groups and how it relates to pregnancy outcomes, including pregnancy and delivery complications, preterm rate, perinatal death rate, and birth rate. Data analysis also includes evaluating pregnancy nutrition conditions and analyzing associations with weight changes during pregnancy, and rates of pregnancy diabetes, pregnancy high blood pressure, fetus growth restriction, low birth weight, and fetal macrosomia. Up to 75% of pregnant women worldwide are anemic, with about half due to ID. The public health implications of study findings could be profound. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Folate and folic acid are different forms of vitamin B9. While there’s a distinct difference between the two, their names are often used interchangeably. In fact, there’s even a lot of confusion among professionals about folic acid and folate. This article explains the difference between folic acid and folate. Vitamin B9 is an essential nutrient that naturally occurs as folate. It serves many important functions in your body. For example, it plays a crucial role in cell growth and DNA formation (1). Low levels of vitamin B9 are associated with an increased risk of several health conditions, including:
For these reasons, supplementing with vitamin B9 is common. Fortifying food with this nutrient is mandatory in many countries, including the United States and Canada. Summary Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9. Its name is derived from the Latin word “folium,” which means leaf. In fact, leafy vegetables are among the best dietary sources of folate. Folate is a generic name for a group of related compounds with similar nutritional properties. The active form of vitamin B9 is a type of folate known as levomefolic acid or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). In your digestive system, most dietary folate is converted into 5-MTHF before entering your bloodstream (6). Summary Folic acid is a synthetic form of vitamin B9 that’s also known as pteroylmonoglutamic acid. It’s used in supplements and added to processed food products, such as flour and breakfast cereals. Unlike folate, not all of the folic acid you consume is converted into the active form of vitamin B9 — 5-MTHF — in your digestive system. Instead, it needs to be converted in your liver or other tissues (6). Yet, this process is slow and inefficient in some people. After taking a folic acid supplement, it takes time for your body to convert all of it to 5-MTHF (7). Even a small dose, such as 200 to 400 mcg per day, may not be completely metabolized until the next dose is taken. This problem may become worse when fortified foods are consumed in addition to taking folic acid supplements (8, 9). As a result, unmetabolized folic acid is commonly detected in people’s bloodstreams, even in the fasted state (10, 11, 12). This is a cause for concern, as high levels of unmetabolized folic acid have been associated with several health problems. However, one study suggests that taking folic acid along with other B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6, makes the conversion more efficient (11 ). Summary Several studies indicate that chronically elevated levels of unmetabolized folic acid may have adverse health effects, including increased cancer risk. High levels of unmetabolized folic acid have been associated with increased cancer risk, though some studies disagree. No conclusive evidence proves that unmetabolized folic acid plays a direct role (13, 14, 15). Even a small, daily dose of 400 mcg may cause unmetabolized folic acid to build up in your bloodstream (9, 16). Although high folic acid intake is a concern, the health implications are unclear, and further studies are needed. Summary It’s best to get vitamin B9 from whole foods. High-folate foods include:
However, for some people, such as those who are pregnant, supplements are an easy way to ensure adequate vitamin B9 intake. Folic acid is the most common supplemental form of vitamin B9. It can be purchased at many drug stores, as well as online. Other supplements contain 5-MTHF, which is considered an adequate alternative to folic acid (17). Supplemental 5-MTHF is available in the form of levomefolate calcium or levomefolate magnesium. It’s sold under the brand names Metafolin, Deplin, and Enlyte, and it’s available online. Summary Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 in food, while folic acid is a synthetic form. High intake of folic acid may lead to increased blood levels of unmetabolized folic acid. Some researchers speculate that this may have adverse health effects over time, but further studies are needed before solid conclusions can be reached. Alternatives to folic acid supplements include 5-MTHF (levomefolate) or whole foods, such as leafy greens. Is folate an iron supplement?Iron-folate supplementation to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia during pregnancy. Anaemia refers to low haemoglobin levels and is a medical condition in which the number of red blood cells or their ability to provide oxygen to the tissues is reduced(Chaparro and Suchdev, 2019).
Can you take iron and folate together?Iron in combination with folic acid also has a beneficial impact on anemia at term and should be routinely used in pregnant women at least in developing countries to reduce the incidence of anemia due to increased demands during pregnancy.
Is there another name for folate?The terms “folic acid” and “folate” often are used interchangeably. However, folate is a general term used to describe the many different forms of vitamin B9: folic acid, dihydrofolate (DHF), tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (5, 10-MTHF), and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) 1.
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Is folate the same thing as iron
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