The role of folic acid in the preconception period and during pregnancy: optimal dosage guidelines and scientific rationale for supplementation before and throughout gestation
Mateusz Pawlak
2026-03-18
4 min. read
The role of folic acid in the preconception period and during pregnancy: optimal dosage guidelines and scientific rationale for supplementation before and throughout gestation
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The preconception period and pregnancy itself represent phases in a woman’s life during which her body demands meticulous attention to balanced nutrition, ensuring an adequate supply of all essential micro- and macronutrients. Among the critical nutrients required at this time, folic acid—the synthetic form of folate—plays a pivotal role in preventing neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Insufficient maternal intake of this vitamin can lead to severe congenital anomalies, including spina bifida and anencephaly, underscoring the imperative for deliberate supplementation both before conception and throughout pregnancy.
Folic acid before pregnancy
Folic acid is involved in the regulation of the functioning of the body by regulating the proper division of cells, especially blood and nervous systems. It is particularly important to prevent cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, megaloblastic anemia, and cancers. Folacin plays an active role in the formation of DNA genetic material and plays a key role in homocysteine metabolism (neuronic acid). It is especially important to ensure that vitamin B9 is supplied adequately by the woman during childbirth.
Folic acid in pregnancy
During pregnancy, there is an increased need for folic acid due not only to the developing fetus, but also to the expectant mother. A woman in childbirth should provide with 0.4 mg of folate per day with food (possibly supplementation) while a pregnant woman is already 0.6 mg (depending on the supplementation). It should also be noted that during pregnancy not only the fetus but also the expecting mother needs folate to maintain proper metabolic processes in her body.
Folic acid sources
Folic acid is present in plant and animal products. In addition to supplementation, a woman should take care to supply this ingredient with food products. Folic acids in plant or animal products are shown in the table below. Plant-based products Petrus fruits, beans, soybeans, spinach, blueberries, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, grains of wheat and psoriasis, as well as other live sources of poison, almonds, sesame seeds, peanut nuts, mangoes, kiwi, avocado.