The B-vitamin folic acid can prevent many cases of serious birth defects.
Each year in the United States almost 4000 babies are paralyzed or
die from serious birth defects of the spine (spina bifida) or brain (anencephaly). Between
50% to 75% of these cases could be prevented if the mother consumed sufficient folic acid before
and during the early weeks of pregnancy.
Spina bifida is a condition that often has disabling
consequences. With severe spina bifida, a person’s legs and feet are paralyzed, and
there are problems with bowel and bladder control. Learning disabilities are common, and
mental retardation sometimes occurs. Babies withanencephaly all die before
birth or shortly thereafter.
All women of childbearing age should consume 400 micrograms (mcg)
of folic acid daily because half of the pregnancies in the United States are unplanned and
because these birth defects of the spine and brain occur before most women know they are
pregnant. Most common multivitamins contain 400 mcg of folic acid. A few breakfast cereals
contain 400 mcg per serving and many others contain 100 mcg per serving. Foods made from
"enriched" flour or grain products now contain additional folic acid; examples
are bread, pasta, and rice.
The CDC, the March of Dimes, and the National Council on Folic
Acid have initiated the National Folic Acid Campaign to educate women of reproductive age
about the need to consume 400 mcg of the vitamin folic acid daily to prevent the serious
birth defects spina bifida and anencephaly.
Join the campaign to prevent birth defects.
The time to prevent birth defects is before pregnancy.
Folic Acid for Healthy Babies