Women
need folic acid for health
Victoria
Dwyer
October
is National Spina Bifida Awareness month
and therefore, there is no better time to
remind all women of childbearing age (15-45
years) about the importance of taking a
daily multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms
(mcg) of folic acid.
According
to the Spina Bifida Association of America,
Spina Bifida is the most commonly occurring,
permanently disabling birth defect of the
spine. It currently affects more than 70,000
Americans and is found in approximately
one out of every 1,000 newborns in the United
States. Development of Spina Bifida, a neural
tube defect (NTD), occurs within the first
four weeks of pregnancy, often before a
woman realizes she is pregnant. Spina Bifida
often causes paralysis, hydrocephalus as
well as bowel and bladder complications.
By consuming a daily multivitamin containing
400mcg of folic acid everyday regardless
of pregnancy, a woman can decrease her risk
for having a baby with Spina Bifida by up
to 70 percent. Women who have a history
of Spina Bifida need to take up to 10 times
the normal recommended amount or 4000mcg.
What
is folic acid? Folic acid is a B-vitamin
that can be found in fortified grains and
breakfast cereals. The best way to be sure
a woman gets the folic acid she needs is
to take a vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid
everyday. Folic acid is also found in foods
containing folate such as fruits, concentrated
orange juice, green leafy vegetables, dried
beans and legumes. Although it is contained
within many common foods, it is not enough
to simply rely upon your diet to obtain
appropriate levels of folic acid.
Some studies have also suggested that folic
acid has other health benefits such as decreasing
the risks associated with some forms of
heart disease and cancer.
What
are the risks for having a child with neural
tube defects such as Spina Bifida? Risk
factors for neural tube defects are women
with a child previously diagnosed with a
NTD, have insulin dependent diabetes mellitus,
take certain anti-seizure medications, have
been medically diagnosed with obesity, are
exposed to higher temperatures from hot
tubs or fever in early pregnancy and come
from a lower socio economic state.
Not
planning on becoming pregnant? While you
may not plan on becoming pregnant in the
near future, you should know that almost
half of all pregnancies are unplanned. If
you are planning on becoming pregnant, it
is imperative that you discuss your folic
acid intake with your physician at least
one to three months before you conceive.
There
are more than 60 million women of childbearing
potential in the United States and chances
are you know one. Please help us spread
the message and encourage them to make folic
acid consumption a part of their daily routine.
Further information on the benefits of folic
acid and Spina Bifida prevention can be
found at www.sbaa.org and www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/folicfaqs.htm
Victoria
Dwyer is a masters of public health student
at CSULB and is involved with the Spina
Bifida Foundation to promote Folic Acid
Awareness.
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