Folic acid and its role in female reproduction

• Main Authors: I V Kuznetsova, V A Konovalov
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: IP Berlin A.V. 2014-08-01
• Series: Гинекология
• Subjects: folate; folic acid; folate deficiency; a comparison of folic acid and l-methylfolate; hyperhomocysteinemia; miscarriage; vitamins in pregnancy
• Online Access: https://gynecology.orscience.ru/2079-5831/article/viewFile/28334/pdf

Adequate folate status is a necessary condition for a normal pregnancy, the development of the fetus and child. Recent clinical studies have enhanced the classic recommendations for folic acid intake for the prevention of obstetric complications and fetal malformations. Subsidy of folic acid in the stage of pregravidal preparation and during pregnancy is an important factor in the prevention of miscarriage, premature birth, dysfunction of the fetoplacental complex, fetal malformations and birth weight of infants or immature children. The optimal dose of folate required to compensate for their lack (in addition to folate derived from food), ranges from 400 to 800 micrograms. The use of folic acid in combination with other vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy has a better effect compared with monotherapy with folic acid. At the moment, there are drugs with structure that, instead of folic acid includes L-methylfolate. In Europe, a comparative, placebo-controlled study, which compared the effects of the use of L-methylfolate ([6S] -5-methyltetrahydrofolate) and folic acid in folate concentration in plasma and erythrocytes was recently held. These studies suggest that folic acid and methylfolate increase the concentration of folate in the blood at the same level, so it makes no sense to use methylfolate instead of folic acid, which has a broad evidence base.