Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

Eating a diet with adequate amounts of folate is especially important in the prevention of certain types of birth defects. In fact, folate is so important that the Food and Drug Administration ordered the addition of folic acid to all grain and cereal products.

Technically, folate is a B vitamin that when added to vitamin supplements is known as folic acid. Research has revealed that women who eat a diet rich in folate, or take folic acid supplements reduce their risk for having babies with defects of the brain and spinal cord, even if they previously delivered a child with a neural tube defect. New research also suggests that low folate levels may contribute to miscarriage.

The nervous system develops in the first weeks of pregnancy. This fact, combined with the fact that many pregnancies are unplanned, has led to the recommendation that all women of childbearing age take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day, in addition to their daily diet. Pregnant women should take 800 micrograms a day.

In addition to taking supplements, you can boost the folate in your diet. Grain and cereal products are enriched with the vitamin. Citrus fruits and juices, such as orange juice are a good source of folate, as are dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach, and other foods such as asparagus, dried beans, wheat germ, and egg yolks.

Because folate is a B vitamin, any “excess” is passed through the body. However, the FDA recommends a total of no more than 1000 micrograms, unless your physician advises otherwise.

April 14
Folate
	Eating a diet with adequate amounts of folate is especially important in the prevention of certain types of birth defects. In fact, folate is so important that the Food and Drug Administration ordered the addition of folic acid to all grain and cereal products. Technically, folate is a B vitamin that when added to vitamin supplements is known as folic acid. Research has revealed that women who eat a diet rich in folate, or take folic acid supplements reduce their risk for having babies with defects of the brain and spinal cord, even if they previously delivered a child with a neural tube defect. New research also suggests that low folate levels may contribute to miscarriage. The nervous system develops in the first weeks of pregnancy. This fact, combined with the fact that many pregnancies are unplanned, has led to the recommendation that all women of childbearing age take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day, in addition to their daily diet. Pregnant women should take 800 micrograms a day. In addition to taking supplements, you can boost the folate in your diet. Grain and cereal products are enriched with the vitamin. Citrus fruits and juices, such as orange juice are a good source of folate, as are dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach, and other foods such as asparagus, dried beans, wheat germ, and egg yolks. Because folate is a B vitamin, any “excess” is passed through the body. However, the FDA recommends a total of no more than 1000 micrograms, unless your physician advises otherwise.

	Resources: How Folate Can Help Prevent Birth Defects U.S. Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_fol.html Folic Acid March of Dimes www.modimes.org/Programs2/FolicAcid/Palmcard.htm Folic Acid Now: Before You Know You’re Pregnant Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/nceh/programs/cddh/fact/folnow.htm