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Review

Biological Role of Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Possible Therapeutic Application for the Prevention of Preeclampsia

by
Lyazzat Kaldygulova
1,
Talshyn Ukybassova
2,
Gulzhanat Aimagambetova
3,*,
Andrey Gaiday
1 and
Akylbek Tussupkaliyev
1
1
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology #2, West-Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe 030012, Kazakhstan
2
Clinical Academic Department of Women’s Health, CF “University Medical Center”, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
3
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomedicines 2023, 11(2), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020272
Submission received: 2 December 2022 / Revised: 20 December 2022 / Accepted: 10 January 2023 / Published: 19 January 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pathophysiology of Pregnancy-Related Conditions)

Abstract

The rationale and importance of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy for fetal congenital defect prevention are accepted worldwide. Moreover, a sufficient plasma concentration of folates can reduce the incidence of spontaneous abortions, and support the normal expansion of placental blood vessels, ensuring physiological placental blood flow, thus promoting appropriate fetal growth and development. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that long-term supplementation with folic acid can effectively prevent preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is unique to the human species in complications during pregnancy, which contributes to maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. In the pathogenesis of preeclampsia abnormal placental invasion, the excess of antiangiogenic factors and maternal–placental syndrome play a key role. Increased blood levels of homocysteine during pregnancy are associated with the risk of preeclampsia. Moreover, hyperhomocysteinemia has been proposed to be an independent risk factor for preeclampsia. Folate supplementation helps to decrease elevated levels of homocysteine; thus, the role of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy is even more important. Multiple reports suggest that folate administration decreases the level of serum homocysteine and, therefore, reduce the risk and severity of preeclampsia. However, the association between folic acid supplementation and the decreased risk of preeclampsia has been investigated with controversial conclusions. Currently, the optimal dose of folic acid that is effective for preeclampsia prevention remains uncertain. In this review, we aim to summarize the accumulated knowledge on the role of folic acid in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and the possible impact of folate supplementation on the decreased risk of preeclampsia.
Keywords: folic acid; folate; MTHFR; homocysteine; pregnancy; preeclampsia folic acid; folate; MTHFR; homocysteine; pregnancy; preeclampsia

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kaldygulova, L.; Ukybassova, T.; Aimagambetova, G.; Gaiday, A.; Tussupkaliyev, A. Biological Role of Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Possible Therapeutic Application for the Prevention of Preeclampsia. Biomedicines 2023, 11, 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020272

AMA Style

Kaldygulova L, Ukybassova T, Aimagambetova G, Gaiday A, Tussupkaliyev A. Biological Role of Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Possible Therapeutic Application for the Prevention of Preeclampsia. Biomedicines. 2023; 11(2):272. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020272

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kaldygulova, Lyazzat, Talshyn Ukybassova, Gulzhanat Aimagambetova, Andrey Gaiday, and Akylbek Tussupkaliyev. 2023. "Biological Role of Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Possible Therapeutic Application for the Prevention of Preeclampsia" Biomedicines 11, no. 2: 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020272

APA Style

Kaldygulova, L., Ukybassova, T., Aimagambetova, G., Gaiday, A., & Tussupkaliyev, A. (2023). Biological Role of Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Possible Therapeutic Application for the Prevention of Preeclampsia. Biomedicines, 11(2), 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020272

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