Pregnancy The Effects of Folic Acid Deficiency

The Effects of Folic Acid Deficiency during Pregnancy.
Scientific inquiry
The importance of folic acid consumption beforehand as well as throughout pregnancy cannot be understated. In as much as there are numerous causes of Neural tube Defects (NTDs), the predominant cause is failure to take substantial amounts of folic acid. Can public campaign of strengthening folic acid in the diet minimize the occurrence of NTDs found in the poor people in relation to the typical number of NTDs found in the wealthy class of people? Dessie et al., (2017) states that in as much as cases of NTDs in emerging nations are four times higher compared to those found in industrialized nations, what matters the most is how to mitigate this issue through administering proper diet throughout pregnancy. In as much as the World Health Organization is determined to mitigate the rate of NTDs globally, regions where people with below average earnings seem to be highly prone to NTDs, mainly because of lack of appropriate diet administration.
Problem statement
Research proves that insufficient intake of folic acid during pregnancy results in neural tube defects in babies. This creates abnormal developmental challenges, improper flourishing of the baby as well as death. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), approximately 300,000 infants have NTDs at birth. A big portion of that figure stems from emerging and underdeveloped nations. Furthermore, Dessie, et al., (2017) state that 10% of infant deaths are caused by NTDs. A substantial portion, that is 10% of genetic disorders as well as deficiencies account for 41,000 yearly deaths as well as 2.3 million cases of people living with disability derived from these neural defects. The post-natal impacts of these neural defects are felt by females as well as babies who live in such regions. Dessie et al., 2017 recommends that folic acid ought to be consumed 30 days prior to pregnancy as well as for 3 months at the start of a pregnancy. This consumption can massively minimize the chances of NTDs from occurring. This research’s key area of concentration is the hostile occurrences during childbirth and midwifery stages which has an impact on life expectancy. The aim is to enhance appropriate progress and flourishing in babies.
Why the study is important
There exists a link between maternal concentration level of type of B vitamin called folate in the blood, the results of pregnancy as well as elevated levels of an amino acid called Homocysteine which causes a condition known as hyperhomocysteinemia. One of the functions of folate is to control Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy). Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor which can cause premature vascular occlusion or vaso occlusive illness.
Hyperhomocysteinemia also causes reduced passage of blood as well as other fluids to the placenta thus resulting to a detrimental pregnancy. Moreover, insufficient consumption of folate as well as minimal folate concentrations in the blood have also been linked to a detrimental pregnancy (Lassi et al., 2013). Throughout pregnancy, it is well known that folate consumption goes hand in hand with iron. These two boost the bloodstream. However, insufficient intake of the same is linked to genetic disparities as well as gravidity difficulties.
Lassi et al., (2013) suggests that additional folic acid be given around the time of conception, like three months prior to as well as the first trimester. The intake of folic acid during this time is attributed to minimal neural tube defects by 75%. More research needs to be done to prove the theory that intake of folic acid aids in curbing infant abnormalities like heart deficiencies, incongruities of the urinary tract, clefts found in the mouth and face, disabilities in limbs as well as a condition prevalent in infants that causes forceful vomiting and dehydration. One cannot deduce that insufficient intake of folate causes involuntary termination of pregnancy as well as negative effects of birth like infant underweight, premature delivery as well as deaths occurring before or during delivery. Therefore the importance of this study is because it evaluates how additional intake of folic acid in gravid females impacts the factors related to the blood as well as the chemical processes occurring in them, the complexities arising from folic acid intake throughout and after gestation period.
Aim of the study
A substantial evidence which confirms that there is fetal growth is the extensive splitting up of cells. This splitting up as well as proper cell growth is facilitated by folic acid, which is important in DNA as well as RNA formation in cells. In addition to that, folic acid helps in amino acid breakdown as well as controlling the levels of homocysteine. Insufficient intake of folic acid is a grievous issue which has a global impact on females (Dessie, 2017). Sufficient intake of folic acid is prevented by reduced rate at which it enters the circulatory system to create significance in the body which falls around 50% to 80% (Hodgetts et al., 2015; Dessie, 2017) as well as improper cooking methods which cause it to be lost. Moreover, the female’s levels of red blood cells as well as protein-rich components plummet extensively due to the following: there is amplified need for folic acid because the fetus also requires nourishment, enlarged levels of folate breakdown, thinning of folic acid concentration within the blood vessels as well as insufficient folic acid ingestion.
This paper did not evaluate the intake of folic acid before conception, combination of iron with folic acid as well as additional nutritional substances throughout the gravidity period. This stems from the fact that this aspect has been covered by supplementary studies.
Article
Reference
Purpose
Hypothesis
Study Question
Variables
Independent(I)
Dependent(D)
Study Design
Sample
Size and Selection
Data Collection
Methods
Major Findings
1
Dessie, M. A., Zeleke, E. G., Workie, S. B., & Berihun, A. W. (2017). Folic acid usage and associated factors in the prevention of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 17(1), 313. doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1506-2
The paper evaluates the consumption of folic acid and related components to curb neural tube defects within gravid females in Ethiopia.
Socio-economical demography.
Data analysis from research subjects at a specific period.
417
Selection of subjects from a planned framework.
Questionnaire and records
There is low consumption of folic acid to curb neural tube defects in females throughout the intricate pregnancy duration, therefore a framework to outline the importance of folic acid in Ethiopia is mandatory.
2
Lassi, Z. S., Salam, R. A., Haider, B. A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2013). Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy for maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3).
An experiment using the placebo effect method was used to determine whether folic acid intake prior and during gravidity had an impact on blood and chemical processes in females.
Key traits in the subjects were identified to determine their suitability in the study.
Logical evaluation
A review of 31 studies
Fixed-effect Mantel-Hanzel meta-analysis
No conclusive evidence.
3
Hodgetts, V. A., Morris, R. K., Francis, A., Gardosi, J., & Ismail, K. M. (2015). Effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on reducing the risk of small?for?gestational age neonates: a population study, systematic review and meta?analysis. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 122(4), 478-490.
To evaluate whether taking folic acid has an effect on the fetus advancement.
Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and study design
Logical evaluation through combining data
Singleton live births without genetic defects; 111 736 in population review and 188 796 in the aged.
UK segmented population’s data and e-literature
Additional folic acid intake mitigates SGA at birth only if done in premeditative state.
4
Linhares, A. O., & Cesar, J. A. (2017). Folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in southern Brazil: prevalence and factors associated. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 22(2), 535-542.
To ascertain the components related to folic acid intake during gravid period.
Statistical traits in reproductive health.
Selection of subjects from a specific time frame.
2,685 females, infants weighing not more than 500 grams or a 20 weeks old fetus.
Data from a large study (The Perinatal Study)
There is poor intake of folic acid among females in underdeveloped regions. Public awareness of folic acid is imperative.
Refefences
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC (2018). “Data & Statistics.” In Folic Accid: Birth Defects Count. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefectscount/data.html on 26 January 2019
Dessie, M. A., Zeleke, E. G., Workie, S. B., & Berihun, A. W. (2017). Folic acid usage and associated factors in the prevention of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 17(1), 313. doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1506-2
Hodgetts, V. A., Morris, R. K., Francis, A., Gardosi, J., & Ismail, K. M. (2015). Effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on reducing the risk of small?for?gestational age neonates: a population study, systematic review and meta?analysis. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 122(4), 478-490.
Lassi, Z. S., Salam, R. A., Haider, B. A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2013). Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy for maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3).
Linhares, A. O., & Cesar, J. A. (2017). Folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in southern Brazil: prevalence and factors associated. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 22(2), 535-542.