What is folic acid?
It is a B vitamin. In its natural form (in foods) it is referred to as folate.
Why should you take it?
Folate or folic acid helps the body form red blood cells and aids in the formation of genetic material within every body cell. It is particularly important if you may soon become pregnant or if you are in the early weeks of pregnancy, because it can help protect an unborn baby against birth defects of the spine and brain.
How much folic acid do you need?
The U.S. Public Health Services suggests 0.4 milligrams of folic acid every day. More than 1 milligram daily is not advised unless your doctor or health care provider recommends it. Because folate is water soluble it washes out of your body and cannot be stored. Therefore it needs to be replenished daily.
How do you get folic acid?
Folic acid is found mainly in green leafy vegetables, asparagus and liver. However, it is difficult to get enough folic acid through diet alone. You can make up the difference by taking a multivitamin supplement. Nearly every type of multivitamin provides the same amount of folic acid.
When should you take folic acid?
You never know right away when you are pregnant. Sometimes weeks can go by before you know. But you and your baby need folic acid most during the period that starts one month before you conceive through the early weeks of pregnancy. So taking one multivitamin a day now (even if you are not pregnant) can reduce the risk of some birth defects if you ever do become pregnant. Folic acid has also been shown to reduce the chances of developing certain types of cancer and heart disease. So even if you are no longer of childbearing age or if you are a male, folic acid can benefit you.
NOTE:
Women with a previous neural tube defect affected pregnancy need even more folic acid than the recommended guidelines. If this pertains to you, you should consult your health care provider to discuss additional folic acid supplementation.
Related Links
The March of Dimes Web Site - Having a Healthy Baby