We are all familiar with the research that shows folic acid to be valuable for preventing birth defects. It does even more than that to benefit both the mother and the fetus. Research appearing in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (January 2008, Volume 198, Issue 1) found that folic acid supplementation reduces the risk for pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia exists when the blood pressure rises and there is excretion of protein in the urine.
Folic acid supplementation can also reduce the risk for premature birth, according to a report presented at the 28th Annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meeting. There was an observational study sponsored by the National Institute of Health. It involved 38,033 participants and found that folic acid supplementation for at least one year prior to pregnancy is linked to a 70% decrease in very early preterm deliveries (20 to 28 weeks in gestational age) and up to a 50% reduction in early preterm deliveries of 28 to 32 weeks.”
