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Pregnancy The Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency Research Paper

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...

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…

Sources used in this document:

References

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.


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