Folic acid is a member of the B vitamin family that is important for prevention of several birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average recommended dosage for women is 400 mcg of folic acid daily and it is included in many multivitamin and prenatal supplements. Several foods have folic acid fortification, including many cereals, to help ensure that women of childbearing age are less at risk for a deficiency that can lead to serious birth defects. Check with your doctor before using a folic acid supplement.
Cell Production
According to the Women's Health website, folic acid is important for your body's ability to produce healthy cells. The influence, or rather the lack of it, is evident in the increased risk of birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. Both of these catastrophic defects result from a sudden halt in cellular production during prenatal development. Spina bifida is a condition in which the final closure of protective tissue over the spine does not occur. Anencephaly is a cessation of brain development, which nearly always leads to death prior to or shortly after birth. These conditions both exemplify the importance of folic acid for cellular production.
Keeps Blood Healthy
Folic acid keeps all of the cells in your body healthy, including your red blood cells that provide oxygen to your organs and tissues. According to Women's Health, a deficiency of folic acid can lead to a deficiency of red blood cells, because your body is no longer efficient at producing them. As a result, you can develop anemia, a condition characterized by fatigue, weakness and impaired immunity. If left untreated, anemia can allow opportunistic infection to take hold, causing additional illness.
Decreased Risk of Birth Defects
Folic acid's ability to help avoid several potentially fatal birth defects is common knowledge. This is due to the role folic acid has in the production of cells used in your body to repair, build and replace tissues such as hair, skin and nails. Many prenatal supplements contain folic acid to help reduce the risk of birth defects that happen when cellular development does not occur. Women planning to become pregnant derive the most benefit from folic acid; however, this vitamin is also important for women of any age.
Preparation of Your Body For Pregnancy
If you're planning a pregnancy or trying to conceive, folic acid helps to prepare your body for the demands of pregnancy. Folic acid not only helps to reduce the risk of certain birth defects, it also helps keep your body from becoming deficient if you are breastfeeding. Women's Health explains that women who are breastfeeding -- and more importantly, those who are breastfeeding and may become pregnant again -- generally require higher doses of folic acid. This helps to maintain your body's folic acid stores while preparing your body for another pregnancy, and it decreases the risk of a deficiency in these situations.
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