Folic Acid Supplements Reduce the Risk of Neural Tube Defects

Birth defects were responsible for 1 in 5 infant deaths in Tennessee in 2004. Memphis already leads the nation in infant mortality, making it imperative that we emphasize proper prenatal care. Women should eat at least 400 micrograms of the B vitamin folic acid every day. This can be found in an assortment of grain products like breads, bagels, pretzels, and pastas. When compared to whole grain items, products made with enriched white flour contain twice as much folic acid. The relatively common occurrence of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) and the strong evidence for a causal link between NTDs and Folic Acid (FA) deficiency have led to important changes in health care practices. Estimates suggest that if all women in the U.S. for whom FA supplementation was appropriate took supplements, the rate of NTDs could be reduced by 50 to 70%.¹

In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age capable of becoming pregnant consume at least 400 µg of FA to reduce the risk of having a child with a NTD.² The average folate intake in food by women in the United States is estimated to be 0.2 mg, or half of the recommended daily need.

In 1996, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that these women take a FA-containing supplement.³ The recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant was based on the observations that FA supplements were required very early in pregnancy, often before a women knows she was pregnant, and because of a high proportion of pregnancies are unplanned. Daily intake of 4 mg of FA is recommended for women who have had a previous pregnancy with an NTD or who are taking certain drugs that interfere with FA metabolism.