North Country Health
Why Folic Acid Matters
When it comes to protecting the health of a developing baby, some of the most effective steps begin before pregnancy. One of those steps is getting enough folic acid.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body make new cells and is especially important during the earliest stages of pregnancy. Adequate folic acid can help prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine, known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly.
Timing is important. The neural tube develops and closes during the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a person knows they are pregnant. That is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women who could become pregnant get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, whether or not they are planning a pregnancy.
Folic acid can come from daily prenatal vitamins, fortified foods, or a combination of both. Some breads, pastas, rice, flours and breakfast cereals contain added folic acid and are labeled “enriched.” Foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans and oranges also provide folate, the natural form of vitamin B9.
This prevention strategy has had a significant public health impact. Since the United States began requiring folic acid fortification of enriched cereal-grain products in 1998, the number of neural tube defects has declined substantially. The CDC estimates that food fortification helps prevent about 1,300 neural tube defects each year in the United States.
Not everyone gets enough folic acid from food alone, and many pregnancies are unplanned. For most people who become pregnant; 400 mcg of folic acid every day can help prevent serious birth defects.
For some families, the cost of vitamins can make it difficult to get enough folic acid. Help is available. Talk with your healthcare provider about affordable options and ask if your health insurance can help cover the cost of a prenatal vitamin. In Minnesota, Medical Assistance may cover a prescribed prenatal vitamin, and eligible families can also contact WIC (Women, Infants and Children) for nutrition support and guidance. Beltrami County Public Health offers free prenatal vitamins to anyone- including residents of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, and Lake of the Woods counties, as well as surrounding communities. Just stop by their office to pick them up!
If you are planning a pregnancy, or could become pregnant, talk with a healthcare professional about folic acid and your individual nutritional needs. A daily prenatal vitamin may seem like a small thing, but when it comes to preventing birth defects, that small step can have a big impact on the health of future generations.
Submitted by: North Country Community Health Services and Beltrami County Community Health Services- www.ncchb.org or www.co.beltrami.mn.us/services/public-health/ or find us on Facebook-North Country Community Health Services
(Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard and Lake of the Woods Public Health)