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29 Apr 2006 11:45 AM

The Importance of Folic Acid

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

You may have heard that folic acid is important before and during early pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that has been shown to have the ability to prevent some birth defects. These are defects of the spinal cord and brain.

The best time to take folic acid is before you become pregnant and very early in pregnancy. The brain and spinal cord develop early in pregnancy and this is when defects can occur. Sometimes they begin developing even before you know you are pregnant. For this reason, it's best to include folic acid in your diet before you become pregnant.

The defects that can be prevented with folic acid are known as neural tube defects. The neural tube develops very early in pregnancy. It folds in and seals, becoming the brain and spinal cord. If it doesn't close, birth defects can result. The most common is spina bifida, which occurs when part of the spinal cord is exposed. Regular intake of folic acid can reduce neural tube defects from fifty to seventy percent.

One reason prenatal vitamins are so important, especially in early pregnancy is they all contain folic acid. The standard dose of folic acid before pregnancy is 400 micrograms. Once you become pregnant, the dose should be increased to 800 micrograms. Many doctors recommend a daily prenatal vitamin because the dose is easier to track to be sure you are getting enough of this important vitamin.

Folic acid is also available in food. It's more difficult to track in your daily diet than a vitamin, but can be a great source of the vitamin. Include some foods rich in folic acid in combination with your prenatal vitamin to be sure you are getting enough.

Foods Rich in Folic Acid:

* Orange Juice

* Broccoli

* Asparagus

* Spinach

* Romaine Lettuce

* Black Beans

* Lentils

* Peanuts

* Eggs

* Papaya

* Salmon

* More foods are being enriched with folic acid, such as cereals, bread and pasta

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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