Core tip: For fathers-to-be, folic acid is an important substance to improve sperm quality. When folic acid presents a deficiency in the male body, the concentration of semen and sperm motility decreases, which will make the chance of conception decrease. Experts suggest that it is best for both spouses to take folic acid supplements during the preparation period. It is advisable for both spouses to take folic acid supplements at the same time during the preparation period, as it is very beneficial for conception and can also help to give birth to a healthy baby. Fathers-to-be take folic acid for a healthier fetus A McGill University study found that fathers’ folic acid levels also have a significant impact on the health of their babies. Researchers used mice in the study, with one group studying fathers who did not get enough folic acid through their daily diet and another group studying fathers who were already getting normal levels of folic acid. Compared to the offspring conceived by mice with normal folate levels, the offspring of mice with inadequate folate folic acid levels had much higher physical defects, up to 30 percent. Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid, is usually derived from green leafy vegetables, meat, fruits, and grains. Sperm can carry memories of the father’s living environment, including his diet and lifestyle choices. This means that if the father eats high-fat, fast food or is already obese, or if they live in a food insecure area, they have difficulty getting enough folic acid from their daily diet, or if they drink or smoke excessively, all of these bad messages can be passed on to their offspring. Experts warn, “Those preparing to be fathers should think carefully about the food, cigarettes and alcohol they put in their mouths because they are responsible for the health of their babies.” Expectant fathers should also take folic acid before conception During the preparation period, experts tell unexpectant mothers to take folic acid three months in advance. But did you know that taking folic acid before pregnancy is not just for mothers, but also for fathers-to-be? Folic acid supplementation for couples to fight neural tube defects in newborns “Neural tube defects” is a disease in which the nervous system is not fully developed in the early embryonic period, resulting in spina bifida, anencephaly and brain expansion in newborns. In the United States alone, tens of thousands of babies are affected by this disease every year, and China is a country with a high incidence of neural tube deformities. Research has found that the cause of this disease is mainly due to the lack of folic acid in pregnant women. In order to prevent neural tube abnormalities, folic acid supplementation for women of childbearing age has become popular in China. Beida Pharmaceuticals, as the undertaking unit of the Sino-US Birth Defects Prevention Cooperation Program, will recently start to donate 50 million dollars worth of Silien folic acid to maternal and child health centers across China to promote more women of childbearing age to take folic acid as early as possible to scientifically prevent the occurrence of fetal neural tube defects. As the other half of the offspring, the father’s nutrition is crucial to the future health of the child, and the father-to-be should also take folic acid supplements from the pre-conception stage, just like the mother-to-be. Although the child is conceived in the mother’s body, the quality of the offspring depends largely on the quality of the fertilized egg. To use an analogy, folic acid supplementation before conception can better create a “good seed” for the mother-to-be to conceive more smoothly; while folic acid supplementation before conception for the mother-to-be can scientifically nurture this “good seed” to ensure a smooth and healthy birth of the baby. Father-to-be: start supplementing with folic acid after marriage to create the “good seed” Many male friends tend to think that supplementation is the patent of women. In fact, it is very important for men, especially future fathers-to-be, to have a comprehensive and balanced diet of nutrients. Because men tend to have bad habits of smoking and drinking, which is not only harmful to the body, but also easy to cause the loss of many nutrients. Even if there are no such bad habits, men are partial to meat in their diet and eat less vegetables and fruits, which can easily cause deficiencies of many vitamins and minerals, which will have a negative impact on the body and then affect many body functions, including reproductive functions, inevitably affecting the next generation. Folic acid is an essential vitamin that is involved in the metabolism of nucleic acids, amino acids, proteins and phospholipids. The body cannot synthesize it itself and must rely entirely on exogenous supplies. For future fathers-to-be, folic acid is an important substance for improving sperm quality. When folic acid presents a deficiency in the male body, the concentration of semen and sperm motility decrease, which can make the chances of conception decrease. In addition, because folic acid is involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, the “seed” that carries the genetic information of the father-to-be is also dependent on folic acid! Another study by the University of California also confirmed that folic acid is quite important for male reproductive health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recommended a daily dietary standard of 0.4 mg of folic acid for adult males. Experts suggest that it is best for couples to take folic acid supplements at the same time during the preparation period, as this is very beneficial for conception.