ARTICLE DESCRIPTION: 

Yong-Chol Hong, Jin-Hui Won, Jun-Il Kang, Hyong-Gun Ri, Effect of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy period to growth and development of offspring: an experimental study, ASIO Journal of Experimental Pharmacology & Clinical Research (ASIO-JEPCR), 2025, 8(1): 12-16.

Yong-Chol Hong, Jin-Hui Won, Jun-Il Kang, Hyong-Gun Ri

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pyongyang University of Medical Sciences, Ryonhwa Dong, Central District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Abstract:

We experimented on animals to reveal the effect of folic acid supplementation in different pregnancy period to growth and development of offspring.

Background and Aim: The term “folic acid” specially means pteroylmonoglutamic acid and note as “PteGlu”after the front part of pteroic acid and glutamic acid. Nowadays, congenital neuroanomaly is growing in children so it is important to assess the effect of folic acid which can protect it.

Materials: Wistar white rats with 160-180g in body weight were used as experimental animals.

Methodology: The pregnancy white rats were divided into control group and study group and study group was divided into early, mid and late group according to the folic acid supplementation period. In control group, white rats were taken folate lake feed. In study group, white rats were taken 3.0mg/kg folic acid once per day in early period (first week), mid period (second week), late period (third week). To determine the effect on growth and development of offspring, we measure the length and weight of 156 young rats which were bred by 20 female white rats at 2 days after birth and did comparative analysis between control and study group. We take 5 young rats in each group to assess the effect on neurobehavioral development. Before initial motion test, we measure foreleg step response inertia time, response inertia time in balance beam test and correction rate of bilateral foreleg step in mustache irrigation bilateral foreleg step test and did comparative analysis between control and study group.

Result: At 2 days after birth, the length in mid and late study group was significantly bigger than control group (P<0.05, P<0.01).  The length of young rats in mid group had tendency to be bigger than late group. And the weight in mid and late study group was significantly bigger than control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The weight of young rats in mid group had tendency to be bigger than late group. In assessment the effect on neurobehavioral development, foreleg step response inertia time and response inertia time in balance beam test in mid and late study group was significantly shorter than control group(P<0.05) and the value in mid group had tendency to be shorter than late group. And correction rate of bilateral foreleg step in mustache irrigation bilateral foreleg step test in study group had tendency to be shorter than control group but there was no significant difference.

Conclusion: The folic acid supplementation in mid and late period of pregnancy promotes growth and development of offspring and neurobehavioral development. And supplementation in mid period had tendency to be bigger.

Keyword; pregnancy period, folic acid supplementation, growth and development.

1. Ibrahim I. A. A. and Yusuf A. J.Quantitative determination of iron and folic acid in Lactuca sativa; (Lettuce) plant, Advances in Applied Science Research, 2015, 6(7):112-115.

2.Marlies E.W.A.Van ALTVORST, Eliza H.Y. CHAN, Rennae S. TAYLOR,Louise C. KENNY, Jenny E. MYERS, Gustaaf A. DEKKER, Robyn A. NORTH. Antepartum haemorrhage of unknown origin and maternal cigarettesmoking beyond the first trimester, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2012; 52: 161-166.

3. Ebisch IM, Thomas CM, Peters WH, Braat DD, Steegers-Theunissen RP.The importance of folate, zinc and antioxidants in the pathogenesis and prevention of subfertility. Hum ReprodUpdate 2007;13:163-74.

4. Joshi R, Adhikari S, Patro BS, Chattopadhyay S, Mukherjee T. Free radical scavenging behavior of folic acid: evidence for possible antioxidant activity. Free Radic Biol Med 2001;30:1390-9.

5. Ruder EH, Hartman TJ, Goldman MB. Impact of oxidative stress on female fertility. CurrOpin Obstet Gynecol 2009;21:219-22.

6. Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. Use of multivitamins, intake of B vitamins, and risk of ovulatory infertility. Fertil Steril 2008;89:668-76.

7. Szymanski W, Kazdepka-Zieminska A. Effect of homocysteine concentration in follicular fluid on a degree of oocyte maturity. Ginekol Pol 2003;74:1392-6.

8. Ebisch IM, Peters WH, Thomas CM, Wetzels AM, Peer PG, Steegers-Theunissen RP. Homocysteine, glutathione and related thiols affect fertility parameters in the (sub)fertile couple. Hum Reprod 2006;21:1725-33.

9. Boxmeer JC, Brouns RM, Lindemans J, Steegers EA, Martini E, Macklon NS, et al. Preconception folic acid treatment affects the microenvironment of the maturing oocyte in humans. Fertil Steril 2008;89:1766-70.

10. Predictors of preconceptional folic acid ormultivitamin supplement use: a cross-sectionalstudy of Danish pregnancy planners, Clinical Epidemiology,2012:4 259-265.

11. Pedersen AN, Fagt S, Groth MV. Danskernes Kostvaner 2003–2008. Søborg: DTU Fødevareinstituttet; 2010.