Getting the Recommended Amount of Folic Acid
The most common NTD is spina bifida, or "open spine," a leading cause of paralysis in children; another is anencephaly, a fetal condition in which a baby is born with a severely undeveloped skull and brain. NTDs are believe to originate very early in pregnancy, during an embryo’s first 28 days - before most women even know they are pregnant. The good news is that women can reduce their risk of having a baby with an NTD by more than 50 percent by consuming folic acid, a B vitamin, before conception and during early pregnancy.
Because more than half of all pregnancies are unplanned, it is important for all women of childbearing age to consume the recommended amount of folic acid every day. (The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 400 micrograms.) Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that it must be replenished daily. Orange juice is a convenient and easy way to include folic acid in your diet. Two eight-ounce glasses contain about half of the recommended daily amount.
Folic acid is also found in grapefruit and pineapple juice. The amount of available folate is approximately the same for frozen, reconstituted and fresh juice.
Related Links
The March of Dimes Web Site - Having a Healthy Baby