Question

With regards to the recommended dietary allowances for folate, an additional requirement of ___ microgram/day is recommended during pregnancy.

• A. 300
• B. 220
• C. 100
• D. 50

Hint:

Always calculate the additional allowance by subtracting the adult female RDA from the pregnancy RDA.
For folate, this is \( 500 - 200 = 300\,\mu\text{g/day} \).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Folate (vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis, cell division, and red blood cell formation.
During pregnancy, folate requirements increase significantly to support maternal tissue growth, placental development, and fetal growth.
Adequate folate intake is also critical for preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in the developing fetus.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
According to the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) established by the ICMR:
- The daily folate requirement for a non-pregnant adult woman is 200 micrograms/day.
- During pregnancy, the total daily requirement increases to 500 micrograms/day.
- This increase represents an additional recommended intake of:
\[ 500\,\mu\text{g/day} - 200\,\mu\text{g/day} = 300\,\mu\text{g/day} \]
This additional requirement ensures sufficient folate is available to support rapid cell division and fetal development.
Therefore, the recommended additional requirement during pregnancy is 300 micrograms/day.

Step 3: Final Answer:
An additional requirement of 300 micrograms/day of folate is recommended during pregnancy.