- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Section 1 Fundamentals of healthy nutrition and lifestyle
- Chapter 1 The importance of nutrition and lifestyle to healthy development
- Chapter 2 Conceptual background to healthy growth and development
- Section 2 Nutritional requirements of pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 3 Practicalities: understanding nutrient recommendations
- Chapter 4 Macronutrients and fibre requirements during pregnancy
- Chapter 5 Polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 6 Vitamin A in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 7 Vitamin B<sub>1</sub> (thiamine) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 8 Vitamin B<sub>2</sub> (riboflavin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 9 Vitamin B<sub>3</sub> (niacin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 10 Vitamin B<sub>6</sub> (pyridoxine) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 11 Vitamin B<sub>7</sub> (biotin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 12 Vitamin B<sub>9</sub> (folate) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 13 Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> (cobalamin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 14 Choline in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 15 Vitamin D in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 16 Vitamin K in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 17 Vitamins C and E and other antioxidants in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 18 Calcium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 19 Iodine in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 20 Iron in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 21 Magnesium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 22 Potassium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 23 Selenium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 24 Copper in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 25 Zinc in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 26 Manganese in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 27 Prebiotics and probiotics in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Section 3 A healthy lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy
- Chapter 28 Pre-conception maternal body composition and gestational weight gain
- Chapter 29 Exercise and physical activity in pregnancy
- Chapter 30 Foods, exposures, and lifestyle risk factors in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 31 Cultural and traditional food practices in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 32 Traditional and herbal remedies in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 33 Maternal stress in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 34 Effects of maternal age on pregnancy outcomes
- Chapter 35 Paternal factors that affect conception and pregnancy
- Section 4 A management guide—from before conception to weaning
- Chapter 36 Guidelines for the pre-conception period
- Chapter 37 Guidelines for pregnancy
- Chapter 38 Guidelines for breastfeeding and weaning
- References
- Subject Index
(p. 81) Vitamin B9 (folate) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter:
- (p. 81) Vitamin B9 (folate) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Author(s):
Sir Peter Gluckman
, Mark Hanson
, Chong Yap Seng
, and Anne Bardsley
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198722700.003.0012
Folate is a coenzyme in multiple biochemical pathways involving one-carbon metabolism, including amino acid metabolism, DNA and RNA synthesis, homocysteine metabolism, and methylation of DNA. The most overt consequence of folate deficiency is megaloblastic anaemia caused by the inhibition of DNA synthesis in red blood cell production. Folate deficiency may also influence the ability to maintain DNA methylation patterns in replicating cells, resulting in lasting phenotypic changes. Embryogenesis and fetal growth require higher levels of folate, which must be supplied maternally during pregnancy. A link between low maternal folate levels and the occurrence of neural tube defects has long been recognized. Other effects in pregnancy include increased risks of pre-eclampsia and placental vascular disorders. The general recommendation is for supplementation prior to conception and throughout pregnancy with 400 #amp;#x03BC;g of folic acid in tablet form, in addition to dietary sources, which can reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Section 1 Fundamentals of healthy nutrition and lifestyle
- Chapter 1 The importance of nutrition and lifestyle to healthy development
- Chapter 2 Conceptual background to healthy growth and development
- Section 2 Nutritional requirements of pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 3 Practicalities: understanding nutrient recommendations
- Chapter 4 Macronutrients and fibre requirements during pregnancy
- Chapter 5 Polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 6 Vitamin A in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 7 Vitamin B<sub>1</sub> (thiamine) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 8 Vitamin B<sub>2</sub> (riboflavin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 9 Vitamin B<sub>3</sub> (niacin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 10 Vitamin B<sub>6</sub> (pyridoxine) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 11 Vitamin B<sub>7</sub> (biotin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 12 Vitamin B<sub>9</sub> (folate) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 13 Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> (cobalamin) in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 14 Choline in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 15 Vitamin D in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 16 Vitamin K in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 17 Vitamins C and E and other antioxidants in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 18 Calcium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 19 Iodine in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 20 Iron in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 21 Magnesium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 22 Potassium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 23 Selenium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 24 Copper in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 25 Zinc in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 26 Manganese in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 27 Prebiotics and probiotics in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Section 3 A healthy lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy
- Chapter 28 Pre-conception maternal body composition and gestational weight gain
- Chapter 29 Exercise and physical activity in pregnancy
- Chapter 30 Foods, exposures, and lifestyle risk factors in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 31 Cultural and traditional food practices in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 32 Traditional and herbal remedies in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 33 Maternal stress in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Chapter 34 Effects of maternal age on pregnancy outcomes
- Chapter 35 Paternal factors that affect conception and pregnancy
- Section 4 A management guide—from before conception to weaning
- Chapter 36 Guidelines for the pre-conception period
- Chapter 37 Guidelines for pregnancy
- Chapter 38 Guidelines for breastfeeding and weaning
- References
- Subject Index