Benefits of Folic Acid in Periconceptional Period

Abstract

This article highlights the different health issues and advantages of folic acid supplementation for both the mother and the fetus throughout the periconceptional stage. It sheds light not only on the well-known neural tube defects caused by folic acid deficiency, but also on other periconceptional benefits such as prevention of megaloblastic anemia, peripheral neuropathy in the mother, and congenital abnormalities such as orofacial defects and cardiovascular disorders in the fetus. The vast variety of advantages given by folic acid supplementation during the critical periconceptional phase heightens the need for its knowledge among reproductive-age females.