Folic Acid
Vitamin
Critical before conception and in early pregnancy to prevent neural-tube defects.
Form: Tablet
Recommended intake: 400 µg/day (600 µg in pregnancy)
Benefits
Reduces neural-tube defect risk, supports red blood cell production, may lower homocysteine.
Warnings
Very high doses can mask B12 deficiency. Some folate-resistant individuals benefit from methylfolate form.
Description
Folate (vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis and red blood cell production. Vietnamese Ministry of Health recommends 400 µg/day for all women of childbearing age, escalating to 600 µg during pregnancy.