Folic Acid Prevents Premature Births
Folic acid supplementation has been commonly known to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in the first 22-28 days of pregnancy. This means that women should be taking folic acid prior to conceiving since neural tube defects can occur in a fetus before a woman may know that she is pregnant.
In addition to preventing neural tube defects, a new study in the February issue of the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that it may be important to continue supplementing with folic acid through to the end of pregnancy. This study followed 14,000 women and found that taking folic acid significantly reduced the risk of preterm births in those who continued to supplement with folic acid in their third trimester.
To find out more about folic acid supplementation and natural fertility support, contact a licensed naturopathic doctor. They can put together an individualized treatment program to help you improve your health both before and during pregnancy.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Tara Andre, ND
Dr. Tara Andresen is a licensed naturopathic doctor practicing in Toronto, Ontario. She follows an evidence-based approach to naturopathic medicine, incorporating the latest scientific research into effective individualized treatment plans for a wide variety of health conditions.