Importance of Folic Acid in Preventing Birth Defects

Photo credit: Baby Aura, by Bonbon

With more than 60% of pregnancies being reported as unplanned, a woman's pre-pregnancy diet becomes more important than ever.

According to March of Dimes – an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the causes of birth defects – women in their child-bearing years are lacking in their intake of folic acid.

The vitamin, they say, plays a crucial role in preventing birth defects, as it helps with spinal cord development during the first few weeks of pregnancy – often the time a woman does not yet know she is pregnant. Since the majority of pregnancies are unplanned, it's important that young women pay attention to their eating habits now and follow a well- balanced diet that is rich in folic acid, said Susie Castillo, whose organization, the Grains Food Foundation, is also raising awareness about the benefits of folic acid.

In particular, Castillo stated, because Hispanic women are more likely to have a child born with a neural tube defect, it is necessary that they understand the importance of eating folic acid-rich foods like enriched grains to dramatically improve their chances of having a healthy baby someday. In fact, when asked about the role of folic acid in a healthy pregnancy, 26% of non-Hispanic women said they were not aware that the vitamin can prevent birth defects, compared to 36% of Hispanic women who stated the same.

Most women know they should eat a healthy diet during pregnancy, but diet is equally important pre-pregnancy, explained Bruce Young, MD, Silverman Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU School of Medicine, Director of the NYU Fetal Therapy Program, and member of the Grain Foods Foundation clinical advisory board.

A woman's diet and lifestyle throughout her childbearing years have a significant impact on her unborn child. Women should have an ample supply of folic acid before conception. I recommend to my patients of child-bearing age that they follow a sensible diet -- which incorporates foods from all foods groups -- and exercise.

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Category: Vitamins