Folic acid, a water-soluble vitamin, has various medical and health benefits and plays a significant role in preventing fetal neural tube defects. However, when supplementing with folic acid, pregnant women should avoid taking it with vitamin C as it can reduce its effectiveness.
Folic acid is relatively stable in alkaline and neutral solutions but easily breaks down in acidic solutions. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is another water-soluble vitamin that is acidic in solutions. When folic acid is taken together with vitamin C, it is exposed to the acidic environment created by vitamin C, which can accelerate oxidation-reduction reactions and speed up its decomposition, leading to a decrease in efficacy. This is especially important as folic acid may not be able to exert its intended effects. Therefore, it is recommended to take folic acid and vitamin C at least 2-3 hours apart or take folic acid before meals and vitamin C after meals.
It is also important to note that folic acid should be taken under the guidance of a doctor and should not be abused, especially by substituting regular folic acid tablets for folic acid supplements. Folic acid tablets are not drugs for preventing fetal deformities and are mainly used for treating anemia. Prolonged intake of high concentrations of folic acid by pregnant women can not only fail to prevent fetal birth defects but also cause serious adverse effects on both the mother and the fetus.
