Nutrition News & Views

May 9, 1999
Folic Acid Helps Prevent Certain Birth Defects - May 1999/No. 1

A woman may reduce her risk of having a child born with certain serious birth defects by at least 50% just by getting enough of the B vitamin, folic acid, in her diet. A nationwide campaign by the National Council on Folic Acid has just been launched to educate women about this relationship.

Every year in the United States, over 4,000 pregnancies are affected by birth defects of the spine (spina bifida) or brain (anencephaly), also known as NTD's (neural tube defects). These defects can cause serious disabilities or even death. Yet half to three-quarters of NTD's could be prevented if women consumed enough folate or folic acid, either through the foods they eat or through supplements.

Folate and folic acid are different terms for the same B vitamin. While these two terms are often used interchangeably, folate is actually the B vitamin found naturally in foods such as orange juice, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries, chickpeas, kidney beans, romaine lettuce, spinach and broccoli. Folic acid is not found in natural food sources. Folic acid is the synthetic B vitamin form that is used in vitamin supplements and added to fortified foods. (Since January 1998, enriched grain products sold in the United States, such as breads, cereals, and pasta, have been fortified with folic acid.)

The National Academy of Sciences recommends that every women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years old) consume 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid daily from foods fortified with folic acid, from vitamin supplements, or from a combination of the two. This is in addition to a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Submitted by Olivia Rahaim and Lisa Selman, MSU Dietetic Interns
Distributed by: Barbara McLaurin, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., Human Nutrition Specialist, MSU Extension Service, May 1999

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