UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Easy
What is the recommended daily requirement of folic acid for a pregnant woman?
Appeared in: UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)
Explanation
- The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for folic acid during pregnancy increases to 400-600 mcg per day to support rapid cell division and fetal growth.
- This dosage is critical for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida and anencephaly, which occur in the first few weeks of gestation.
- Among the choices provided, 500 mcg/day is the only option that falls within the standard recommended prophylactic range for a low-risk pregnancy.
- This dose aligns with national health guidelines, such as the Anemia Mukt Bharat program, which provides a combined Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) tablet with 500 mcg of folic acid.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: A dose of 200 mcg/day is insufficient to meet the increased demands of pregnancy. This amount is closer to the RDA for a non-pregnant adolescent.
- Option B: This dose is grossly inadequate for a pregnant woman and would not provide protection against neural tube defects.
- Option C: While higher than the other incorrect options, 300 mcg/day is still below the minimum recommended dose of 400 mcg/day needed for the prevention of NTDs.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Recommended daily folic acid intake during pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- A key nursing role is educating all women of childbearing age about the importance of adequate folic acid intake before conception, as the neural tube closes very early in pregnancy.
- Nurses must assess for high-risk factors (e.g., a previous child with an NTD, use of anti-epileptic drugs) that require a significantly higher dose of folic acid (4-5 mg/day).
- Patient counseling should include dietary sources of folate (leafy greens, legumes, fortified cereals) in addition to supplementation to ensure consistent intake.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core of the question: the specific daily requirement of 'folic acid' for a 'pregnant woman'.
- Recognize this as a factual recall question based on established nutritional guidelines in obstetrics.
- Recall that pregnancy significantly increases the need for folic acid to prevent birth defects.
- Remember the standard recommended range for low-risk pregnancy is 400-600 mcg per day.
- Scan the options to find the value that fits within this therapeutic range.
- Eliminate options that are clearly too low (120, 200, 300 mcg) and select the most appropriate dose (500 mcg).
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Recommended daily folic acid intake during pregnancy.
- Stem keywords: folic acid, pregnant woman, daily requirement
- Lead-in keywords: What is
- Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Question ID
Qh-AyIdDLQOImdtAmMJLJ_
Reference Book
E6 Biochemistry U Satyanarayana— Part 2 (pp 421-820 of 840) p. 139-141
E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 111-113
E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 209-211
Practise the full UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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