scholarly journals Folic Acid Supplementation on Fetal Growth at Different Gestational Ages

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1761-1766
Author(s):  
Hannah Sugirthabai Rajila Rajendran ◽  
Thotakura Balaji ◽  
Jyothi Ashok Kumar ◽  
Santhosh Kumar ◽  
Vaithianathan Gnanasundaram

Introduction: Folate, Vitamin B9, is found naturally in our day to day foods. It is vital for synthesis of DNA and normal cell division in humans. Studies have revealed constantly that maternal folic acid[FA] intake prior to and in early conception decreases neural tube defects. Aim: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the relationship between FA intake by the mother during conception and fetal growth at different gestational ages and also if, periconceptional and preconceptional FA intake has a positive effect on fetal growth, hence reducing the risk of low birth weight babies or small for gestational age (SGA) babies. Materials and methods: 180 pregnant women were classified based on their period of FA intake as preconception, periconception FA intake and nil FA intake. Standard fetal biometric parameters were measured using ultrasonogram during the 1st , 2nd and 3rd trimester of their pregnancy. Results: Preconception FA intake had a positive effect on fetal growth as compared to those who abstained from FA supplementation. Intake during preconception and peri-conception i.e. immediately after confirmation of pregnancy was found to have a reduced risk of low fetal weight as against those who did not consume FA. Fetal biometry showed significant difference between preconception and periconception groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, preconceptional and periconceptional FA supplementation of 0.4-0.5 mg/day was positively affecting fetal growth and caused an optimal birth weight by decreasing the incidence of low birth weight.

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 777-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Timmermans ◽  
Vincent W. V. Jaddoe ◽  
Albert Hofman ◽  
Régine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen ◽  
Eric A. P. Steegers

Countries worldwide, including the Netherlands, recommend that women planning pregnancy use a folic acid supplement during the periconception period. Some countries even fortify staple foods with folic acid. These recommendations mainly focus on the prevention of neural tube defects, despite increasing evidence that folic acid may also influence birth weight. We examined whether periconception folic acid supplementation affects fetal growth and the risks of low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth, in the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Main outcome measures were fetal growth measured in mid- and late pregnancy by ultrasound, birth weight, SGA and preterm birth in relation to periconception folic supplementation (0·4–0·5 mg). Data on 6353 pregnancies were available. Periconception folic acid supplementation was positively associated with fetal growth. Preconception folic acid supplementation was associated with 68 g higher birth weight (95 % CI 37·2, 99·0) and 13 g higher placental weight (95 % CI 1·1, 25·5), compared to no folic acid supplementation. In these analyses parity significantly modified the effect estimates. Start of folic acid supplementation after pregnancy confirmation was associated with a reduced risk of low birth weight (OR 0·61, 95 % CI 0·40, 0·94). Similarly, reduced risks for low birth weight and SGA were observed for women who started supplementation preconceptionally, compared to those who did not use folic acid (OR 0·43, 95 % CI 0·28, 0·69 and OR 0·40, 95 % CI 0·22, 0·72). In conclusion, periconception folic acid supplementation is associated with increased fetal growth resulting in higher placental and birth weight, and decreased risks of low birth weight and SGA.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Stevens ◽  
David Burman ◽  
M. Keith Strelling ◽  
Audrey Morris

Low birth weight infants(246) entered a trial of folic acid supplementation from 3 weeks to 12 months of age. The folic acid group had significantly higher mean hemoglobin levels at 6 and 9 months of age but the differences were only about 0.5 gm/dl, there was no significant difference in hematocrit, and in both groups of infants the mean hemoglobin levels were higher than those of normal birth weight infants. The differences in hemoglobin, although statistically significant, are of uncertain clinical significance. Median red cell folate levels remained within the normal adult range in both groups of infants. A minority of infants in the untreated group had low red cell folate levels but this was usually temporary, corrected by dietary folate, and not associated with low hemoglobin. Weight gain was not affected by folic acid supplementation. The infants in this trial were fed with a milk preparation containing 3.5 µg/100 ml of folic acid which is a similar concentration to that of human milk and we recommend that the folate content of milks fed to low birth weight infants should not fall below this level. We do not have sufficient grounds to recommend routine folic acid supplements for all low birth weight infants throughout the first year of life but there is a possibility that their folate intake may sometimes be suboptimal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andualem Zenebe ◽  
Kaleab Tesfaye Tegegne ◽  
Berhanu Bifato ◽  
Abiyu Ayalew Assefa

Abstract Background Previous studies on iron with folic acid supplementation and low birth weight indicated different findings. The aim of the current systemic review and meta-analysis was to examine the relationship between iron and folic acid supplementation and birth weight in Ethiopia. Main body The databases searched were PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Cochrane Library in January 2021. AZ, KTT and AAA carried out the data extraction and independently assessed the articles for inclusion in the review using risk-of-bias tool guided by PRISMA checklist. The combined Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated using random effect model. Twenty four observational studies involving 10,989 participants, 2423 newborns who were born LBW were included. The combined effect size (OR) for low birth weight comparing women who have Iron and Folic acid supplementation versus women who did not have iron and folic acid supplementation was 0.39 (95% CI 0.27–0.59, p < 0.00001, I2 = 91%). There was significant heterogeneity (Q = 264.16, I2 = 91%, p < 0.00001). No publication bias was observed (Egger’s test: p = 0.742, Begg’s test: p = 0.372). Overall 69.5% of women reported having iron and folic acid supplementation during current pregnancy. And the overall proportion of low birth weight was 22.1%. Conclusions Women who were supplied with iron and folic acid during pregnancy had a 67% decreased chance of delivering low birth weight new born in Ethiopia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-109
Author(s):  
Dian Pratiwi ◽  
Djauhar Ismail ◽  
Mufdlilah Mufdlilah ◽  
Panyada Cholsakhon

The number of low-birth-weight babies (LBW) who returned to the hospital after returning home had increased from 2015 to 2016. The results of the interview revealed that mothers who had LBW did not thoroughly understand providing care for LBW after returning from the hospital. This study aims to determine the effect of health education on a mother's knowledge, attitude and behaviour in providing care to LBW. This study is quasi-experimental with a pre-posttest approach non-equivalent to the control group, with 66 respondents fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria in this study were post-partum mothers on the second day who had babies with a birth weight of 1500 grams-2499 grams and were willing to be respondents. The sampling technique was purposive sampling. The statistical test employed independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square. Knowledge scores before and after treatment were significantly different in the intervention group and control group, with a p-value in the intervention group 0.00, while the knowledge and attitude scores in the control group were 0.00 and the behavioural scores were 0.11. There was a significant difference in the increase in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour scores in both groups. The p-value of knowledge and attitudes is 0.00, and the p-value of behaviour is 0.01. Hence, there is an increase in mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour after being provided with health education using a booklet.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 945-945

In the article "Folic Acid Supplementation in Low Birth Weight Infants," by Stevens et al (Pediatrics 64:333-335, 1979) two corrections were received after the journal went to press. In Table 1, RCF values should read ng/ml not µg/ml. On page 335, first column, line 21, RCF levels should read less than 100 ng/ml not 100 µg/ml.


2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 210-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Cakmak Celik ◽  
Canan Aygun ◽  
Sedat Gulten ◽  
Abdulkerim Bedir ◽  
Erhan Cetinoglu ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Richa Dwivedi ◽  
Anju Depan ◽  
Kanti Yadav ◽  
Meenakshi Samariya

Background: In pregnancy amniotic fluid surrounds the foetus and plays an important role in the development of fetus. From the very beginning of the formation of the extracoelomic cavity amniotic fluid can be detected. To evaluate the predictive value of amniotic fluid index (AFI) (<5) for adverse perinatal outcome in terms of cesarean section for fetal distress, birth weight, meconium staining, Apgar scores, and NICU admission at birth.Methods: This was a prospective study of 100 antenatal women visited RMC, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India during the year 2018 with gestational age >34 weeks. The women’s history, clinical examination recorded, and AFI were measured and the perinatal outcome was compared between two groups, i.e., AFI <5 and >5.Results: The cesarean section rate for fetal distress, low birth weight babies, <2.5 kg and meconium staining was higher in patients with oligohydramnios (p=0.012, 0.001, 0.00015 respectively). There was no significant difference in Apgar score at 5 min <7 (p=0.087) and NICU at birth between the two groups.Conclusions: Oligohydramnios has a significant correlation with cesarean section for fetal distress, low birth weight babies and NICU admission.


Author(s):  
Monjurul Hoque ◽  
Shahnaz Hoque

Background: Detection and management of high-risk pregnancies, all the way through antenatal care, have been advocated as a high-quality mean of reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.Objectives: This study reviewed the demographic variables, pregnancy and obstetric complications and perinatal outcomes for the years 1999 and 2004 in a rural hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, with the aim of evaluating trends and gaps that may enhance appropriate strategies for improvement of antenatal care.Method: A retrospective comparative study, with representative samples of pregnant women, were randomly selected for the respective years 1999 and 2004. Descriptive statistics were calculated depending on measurement scale. A Z-test was carried out to assess the significant difference (p < 0.05) in proportions between pregnancy complications and outcomes of the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken to determine the significant predictors for outcome variables.Results: The numbers of pregnancies among young women (< 25 years) increased significantly by 8% (p < 0.05) in the year 2004. Compared with 1999, the reduction in the numbers of pregnancies (1%) among higher parity (parity 5 or more) women in 2004 was remarkable. There were significant reductions of eclampsia, anaemia and post partum haemorrhage. Women with breech presentation were 3.75 times more likely to deliver preterm, and 5.45 times more likely to deliver low birth-weight babies. Similarly, women with pregnancy-induced hypertension were more likely to have preterm (OR = 3.50, 95% CI 2.83; 4.35) and low birth-weight babies (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.62; 2.71). Eclampsia was also a risk factor associated with preterm deliveries (OR = 6.14, 95% CI 3.74; 10.09) and low birth-weight babies (OR = 3.40, 95% CI 1.83; 6.28).Conclusion: This study suggests that further research is needed to find the causes of higher rate of teenage pregnancies and an increase in quality of antenatal care is more important in improving maternal and perinatal health. Training of staff to standard protocol and guidelines on antenatal care and care during delivery, and adherence to it, should be encouraged to improve maternal and child health in South Africa.


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