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The Importance of Folic Acid for Women
Folic acid is one of the B complex vitamins and it is especially important that women of childbearing age consume enough of this essential vitamin. Folic acid works to make new cells in the body as new cells are manufactured on a daily basis, such as for example, the skin, nails and hair. Folic acid can help prevent major birth defects that can affect a developing fetus' brain and spinal cord. Birth defects as a result of a lack of folic acid are termed neural tube defects (or are abbreviated to NTDs). It is important for women to consume folic acid on a regular basis but especially if they plan to get pregnant. Most doctors recommend that women increase their folic acid by way of dietary means and/or by taking a supplement approximately three months before they plan to try to get pregnant.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 120,000 newborn babies in the United States are affected by birth defects every year and birth defects are the number one cause of infant death. It is so important for folic acid to be present in a woman's body when she becomes pregnant because most NTDs take place extremely early on in a pregnancy, often before a woman is aware that she is pregnant. It is highly recommended by the Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all females who are of childbearing age take 400 micrograms (400 mcg or 0.4mg) of folic acid every day. Taking a supplement of folic acid daily can decrease the risk of having a baby born with birth defects by approximately 50 to 70 percent.
Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur when the baby's neural tube (which is the precursor to the brain and spine) does not form correctly and the result is that the newborn's spine or brain is damaged. This damage can range from moderate to severe. This irreversible problem takes place within the first few weeks after a pregnancy has occurred, but often before a woman is even aware that she is pregnant. The two most widespread NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly. Both of these devastating health conditions can cause disabilities that can last a lifetime and in other cases, death is the result. Many babies who suffer from either of these conditions do not live very long lives.
Spina bifida takes place when the spine and bones of the back do not fuse and close together as they are supposed to. What happens instead is a sac of fluid develops through an opening that is found in the baby's spine. A great deal of the time a good portion of the spinal cord is enclosed in the fluid filled sac and is damaged. With the proper care most children with spina bifida can live long, productive lives, however they will suffer from disabilities throughout their lifetime and will likely need to undergo a number of surgical procedures. Some babies born with spina bifida have more serious disabilities than others. The condition varies from child to child.
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Anencephaly takes place when the brain and the bones of the skull do not form correctly. In this case either part or all of the brain and/or the skull bones are not there. Miscarriages are common for babies who have anencephaly. In other cases the baby is born but dies shortly after coming into the world. Anencephaly is always fatal. In the majority of incidences both spina bifida and anencephaly can be prevented if a woman begins taking a folic acid supplement many months before she attempts to conceive.
Folic acid is found in many foods however the amounts found in food sources generally are not enough to fulfill a woman's recommended daily requirement. These foods include fortified breakfast cereal (such as Total, Kellogg's All Bran, Kellogg's Special K ands Quaker Oats Honey Nut Oats, to name a few), lentils, spinach, asparagus, black beans, peanuts, orange juice (the type made from concentrate is the best choice), broccoli, romaine lettuce and fortified grains such as enriched breads, flours, pasta and rice. When buying breakfast cereal look for one that states on the label that it contains '100% daily value (DV) of folic acid in a serving.'
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The Importance Of Folic Acid For WomenFolic acid is one of the B complex vitamins and it is especially important that women of childbearing age consume enough of this essential vitamin. Folic acid works to make new cells in the ...
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