Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps prevent certain birth defects called neural tube defects when taken prior to pregnancy and in early pregnancy. It is recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida occurring. Women who have previously had a baby with a neural tube defect are advised to take a higher daily dose of 4,000 micrograms. A survey found that women less likely to take folic acid supplements were aged 18-24, had a household income under $15,000, did not complete high school, or only completed high school.

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Lower socioeconomic/educational level
Race/ethnicity
Geography
Exposure to high temperatures in pregnancy

2. Folic acid is the synthetic form of a water soluble
B vitamin that is needed to:
• Make new cells/cell division
• Make normal-shaped red blood cells
• Help prevent anemia
• Help prevent birth defects
• Help prevent heart disease, stroke and certain
cancers.

4. Take a multi-vitamin with 400 mcg. of synthetic folic acid
every day
• “All women of childbearing age in the United States
• who are capable of becoming pregnant
• should consume 400 mcg. of folic acid per day
• for the purpose of reducing their risk
• of having a pregnancy affected
• with a Neural Tube Defect.
• Women who have had prior NTD-affected pregnancy
• are at risk of having a subsequent affected pregnancy.”

5. • Spina Bifida – 60%
• Anencephaly – 30%
• Encephalocele – 10%
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second
most common cause of infant mortality.
NTDs occur in 1 out of every 2,000 babies.

6. • Defect of the skull – smaller defect than
anencephaly
• Protrusion of brain or skin-covered brain
• Rarer than the other types of NTDs
• Overall mortality rate about 29%

7. • Neural tube fails to close properly:
• Occurs by 28 gestational days
• Associated problems:
• Hydrocephalus
• Clubfoot
• Vertebral anomalies
• Renal anomalies
• Requires surgery 24-48 hours after birth

8. • Physical Costs: Possible paralysis
(the leading cause of childhood paralysis),
bowel and bladder control problems,
learning disabilities, hydrocephalus,
surgical procedures, latex allergies,
increased health problems with age

9. • U.S. Public Health Service recommendation:
• “All women of childbearing age capable of
becoming pregnant should consume 400
micrograms (or 0.4 milligrams) of folic acid
daily.”

10. • U.S. Public Health Service recommendation:
• “All women of childbearing age capable of
becoming pregnant should consume 400
micrograms (or 0.4 milligrams) of folic acid
daily.”

11. • All women of childbearing age should receive
400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid daily.
• Women who have had a previous child with
NTD should receive 4000 micrograms (4 mg)
of folic acid daily.

12. • The survey highlights the following characteristics of
• women in the survey who were less likely to take a
daily
• folic acid supplement.
• Women aged 18-24 (37.1%)
• Annual income less than $15,000 (27.1%)
• Less than a High School diploma (19.2%)
• High School diploma (39.1%)

13. Reasons for Taking Folic Acid

14. • Neural tube fails to close properly:
• Occurs by 28 gestational days
• Associated problems:
• Hydrocephalus
• Clubfoot
• Vertebral anomalies
• Renal anomalies
• Requires surgery 24-48 hours after birth

15. • Defect of the skull – smaller defect than
anencephaly
• Protrusion of brain or skin-covered brain
• Rarer than the other types of NTDs
• Overall mortality rate about 29%