How to Prevent Birth Defects with Folic Acid

What is folic acid?

Folic acid is a vitamin that is used by the body to create new cells and keep the blood healthy. Everyone needs folic acid to stay healthy. It is especially important if you are pregnant.

Folic acid is artificial (synthetic). The vitamin in its natural form is called folate. Some foods are natural sources of folate, and other foods have folic acid added to them (fortified foods). You can also buy folic acid supplements or vitamins that contain folic acid.

Why is folic acid important during pregnancy?

Folic acid helps reduce your baby’s risk of serious birth defects, especially:

• Spina bifida. Spina bifida occurs when a baby’s spinal column does not develop completely. This can cause serious, long-term (chronic) disabilities.
• Anencephaly. This is a birth defect that causes your baby to be missing parts of the brain, scalp, and skull when he or she is born. Most babies born with anencephaly only live for a short amount of time.

Spina bifida and anencephaly are commonly associated with a lack of folic acid during pregnancy.

How much folic acid do I need?

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, your health care provider may prescribe vitamins that contain the right amount of folic acid that you need.

• If you plan to become pregnant, you should take at least 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid daily. Birth defects usually occur in the earliest stages of pregnancy, often before you know you are pregnant. Taking folic acid when you start trying to become pregnant can help prevent birth defects.
• While you are pregnant, you need at least 600 mcg of folic acid each day.

What nutrition changes can be made?

To increase your intake of folate and folic acid, you may:

• Eat more foods that are fortified with folic acid. Check food labels to see whether a food contains folic acid. Foods that are commonly fortified with folic acid include:
  • Cereals.
  • Pastas.
  • Flours.
  • White rice.
  • Breads.
• Eat more foods that are natural sources of folate, such as:
  • Legumes, including lentils, peas, and beans.
  • Nuts.
  • Vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and mustard greens.
  • Citrus fruits and juices.

Your health care provider may still recommend that you take a supplement to make sure that you get enough to reduce the risk of birth defects.

Where to find support

• Talk with your health care provider or your pharmacist to find a folic acid supplement that is right for you.
• Your health care provider may recommend that you see a nutrition specialist (nutritionist). A nutritionist can help you make healthy food choices and get more folate from your diet.
• Nutrition education programs may be available through your community health department.

Where to find more information

Visit the following websites to learn more about the importance of folic acid.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html
• The Office on Women’s Health: womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/folic-acid.html
• National Institutes of Health: ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer
• The March of Dimes: www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/folic-acid.aspx

Summary

• It is important to start taking folic acid when you are planning to become pregnant, because many birth defects can happen before you know that you are pregnant.
• You can get more folate and folic acid from your diet. Look for certain foods that are fortified with folic acid.
• Your health care provider may recommend that you take a supplement to get enough folic acid.