Importance of Folic Acid (Folate) in Preventing Certain Birth Defects

Folic acid is a type of B vitamin, which is important in preventing birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. These birth defects are neural tube defects (NTD) that occurs in the developing fetus. The neural tube is a narrow channel that usually folds and closes during the first few weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord.

Spina bifida occurs when the neural tube that forms the spinal cord fails to close completely. Anencephaly, on the other hand, results when the neural tube forming the brain does not close. These birth defects can be prevented when the mother regularly takes the recommended dose of folic acid.

Everybody needs folic acid. The body uses this B vitamin to help form new cells. Folic acid is equally important for women in their reproductive years as this vitamin can help prevent neural tube defects by as much as 50% to 70%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 1992, the US Public Health Service has recommended that all women from the ages of 15 to 44 take folic acid every day. The recommended dose of folic acid that women need to take each day is 400 micrograms (mcg).

Although folic acid can be obtained from food sources, the amounts of food that one should take to get enough folic acid should be in large proportions. For example, one would have to eat 10 bunches of broccoli to get enough folic acid. This could be difficult for most people to eat that much food. Also, this would probably be impractical as buying large amounts of food high in folic acid would be more expensive than taking the vitamin.

It is, however, still important to maintain a well balanced diet as vitamins should not be used as replacement for food.

When should a woman start taking folic acid?

The CDC recommends that women of childbearing age should get enough folic acid everyday. According to the CDC, about half of the pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. And because a woman may not immediately know that she is pregnant during the first few weeks, taking the recommended dose of folic acid everyday is necessary.

The neural tube of the baby develops into the brain and spinal cord during the first few weeks of pregnancy. It is for this reason that it is important for a woman to have enough folic acid to protect the unborn child from neural tube defects.

Sources:
Facts About Folic Acid (October 2009). Retrieved on February 19, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html

Spina Bifida (March 2009). Retrieved on February 19, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/SpinaBifida.htm

Anencephaly (March 2009). Retrieved on February 19, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/Anencephaly.htm