Folic acid is a B vitamin that is critical for cell production in developing fetuses. Particularly, folic acid is important for the proper development and closure of the neural tube. This neural tube ultimately develops into the baby’s spinal cord and brain. Spina bifida is a condition in which the neural tube does not properly develop and has long been attributed to lack of folic acid. Approximately 3,000 infants per year are born with spina bifida and anencephaly, which is a similar condition that affects the brain.
Unfortunately, not every pregnant woman takes folic acid like they should. In one study, 3 of 4 women were not taking folic acid at the time of conception. The neural tube, which I referenced above, actually closes during the first several weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential that folic acid is taken at the beginning of pregnancy while the benefit still exists. Actually, we now believe that folic acid should be taken by all women of reproductive age, even if not actively trying to conceive as the body can store folic acid which reduces the odds of spina bifida and similar conditions even more than just taking the vitamin after pregnancy has commenced. It has been estimated that more than 70% of spina bifida cases could be prevented if women simply took folic acid as recommended.
The benefits of folic acid don’t stop with just the prevention of neural tube defects. Women taking multivitamins containing folic acid also can reduce the likelihood of other conditions, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, hypertension in pregnancy, pre-term labor, low birth weigh infants, and possibly even miscarriage. Along with these proven benefits to the developing baby, folic acid provides additional benefits to us all including the potential to prevent heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. It might even prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
So if you are of reproductive age, please start your day with either a prenatal vitamin, or a multivitamin that contains folic acid, preferably 400 micrograms or more. You owe this to yourself and to your developing baby if you were to become pregnant. Even if you are not actively trying to become pregnant, it is still recommended and you might be benefiting your overall health in the meantime.
Dr Voth,
My father is heterozygous for the C677T mutation, and does not have the A1298C mutation. If my daughter has inherited this from him – do you know if that would affect the absorption of folic acid or B vitamins past the blood/brain barrier? I’m wondering if she should be tested, as ADHD seems to run in our family. I’ve read that most woman who have this mutation, tend to miscarry. My daughter hasn’t had that problem, she’s on her 4th pregnancy. I’d appreciate hearing anything you can tell me on this subject.
We are researching an answer for your question.