Folic acid is the man-made, synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin that our bodies use to make healthy new cells. It is especially important for women of childbearing age to have adequate folic acid levels, before and during pregnancy. From the onset of menses to menopause, a woman can become pregnant. The developing baby depends on its mother as a source of nutrition for normal growth and development.
Why Folic Acid is Crucial
We all need folic acid, but it is essential for women who may get pregnant. Having adequate folic acid levels prevents major neurological defects in an unborn child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that it can prevent brain and spine defects, such as anencephaly and spina bifida, by 50 to 70 percent. Anencephaly is a failure of the neural tube to close properly during fetal development. Normally, the neural tube begins to close during the third and fourth weeks of gestation to form the brain and spinal cord. An infant born with anencephaly lacks the forebrain, which is front part of the brain, and the cerebrum, which is the area associated with higher brain function such as thinking. Remaining brain tissue is not often covered by bone and skin. The baby is usually blind, deaf, unconscious and unable to feel pain. Even in cases where there is a rudimentary brain stem, the lack of a functioning cerebrum prevents the baby from gaining consciousness. Spina bifida is a failure of the fetus's spine to close properly during the first month of gestation. Some infants with spina bifida are born with an open lesion on their spines where there has been significant damage to the nerves and spinal cord. The opening is surgically repaired within 24 hours after birth. Others are born with no lesion, but may have improperly formed or missing vertebrae and associated nerve damage. Nerve damage is permanent and irreversible.
Recommended Daily Intake of Folic Acid
Women of childbearing age need 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid every day. This is the equivalent of 0.4 to 0.8 mg. Women who are breastfeeding need 500 micrograms daily. Women, who have had a baby born with a brain and spine defect and wish to get pregnant again, may be given a prescription for 4,000 micrograms of folic acid to be taken daily.
When to Start Taking Folic Acid
It is never too early to be certain that you are getting enough folic acid. Your body needs this vitamin to make new healthy cells daily. To prevent major birth defects, the CDC urges women to take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, beginning at least one month before becoming pregnant.
How to Get Enough Folic Acid
In its natural form, folate is found in leafy green vegetables like spinach, citrus fruits, beans and legumes. Consuming foods enriched with folic acid, such as breakfast cereals, breads and pasta, is another way to get your daily requirement. Most multivitamins that bear USP on the label are approved by the United States Pharmacopeia and contain 400 micrograms of folic acid. Taking a daily multivitamin and eating foods fortified with folic acid are two ways to ensure that you are getting enough of this important vitamin.
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