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                               January 12, 2001

Folic acid helps guard against birth defects

Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord when taken before -- or in the early weeks of -- pregnancy.

The March of Dimes recommends that all women who can become pregnant consume a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, in addition to eating a healthy diet including foods rich in folic acid.

Foods that are naturally rich in folates include: orange juice, other citrus fruits and juices, leafy green vegetables, beans, peanuts, broccoli, asparagus, peas, lentils and whole-grain products. Multivitamins, fortified breakfast cereals and enriched grain products contain a synthetic form of folic acid that is more easily absorbed by the body than the natural form.

Folic acid, however, is not just for women. In recent years, doctors have come to realize that folic acid is very important for everyone in maintaining health. It has long been known that folic acid plays an important role in production of normal red blood cells and may prevent heart disease and strokes. Some studies suggest that folic acid may also prevent certain cancers, especially colon cancer.