Pregnancy - How Much Folic Acid Should I Take?

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Spina bifida is a birth defect that can happen to anyone. There is no known cause of spina bifida, but research has shown that if a woman takes 400 mcg of folic acid every day for at least one month before conception, she reduces her risk of having a baby with spina bifida or another neural tube defect by as much as 70 percent.

Folic acid is found in foods such as cereals, broccoli, spinach and other leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits. Most women do not eat enough folic acid-containing foods (such as leafy vegetables and citrus fruits). For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that flour, breads, rolls, buns, corn meal and grits, farina, rice, macaroni, and noodle products should be fortified with folic acid.

Pregnancy

Folic acid is also available as a vitamin supplement. It appears to work around the time of conception, so if women wait to start folic acid until they know they are pregnant, it will likely be too late for the vitamin to offer benefit. Pregnancy experts believe supplementation of folic acid at a level of 1 milligram (mg) a day - the usual dose in prescription prenatal vitamins - is the best approach for women planning pregnancy. High levels of folate can potentially mask a deficiency of vitamin B-12 which can cause a condition called pernicious anemia. Due to this, supplementation of dietary folic acid for the general population has been kept to a lower dose. However, this risk is minimal when folic acid is used specifically while seeking pregnancy.

Pregnancy - How Much Folic Acid Should I Take?

It is possible that folic acid will also help reduce the risk of other birth defects, including cleft lip, cleft palate and some congenital heart defects.

If you have spina bifida or if you have a child with spina bifida, you will need extra folic acid before you become pregnant. If you are taking anti-seizure medications or you have diabetes, you may also benefit from a higher dose of this B vitamin. In these cases, the recommended dose of folic acid may be up to 4,000 mcg (4 mg) beginning one month prior to conception and during the first few months of pregnancy. If you think you might need an increased amount of folic acid, ask your doctor for a prescription dose of the vitamin. Do not simply take extra multivitamins because the additional amounts of other vitamins may be harmful to you and your baby.

Pregnancy - How Much Folic Acid Should I Take?

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find information on the causes and risk factors of spina bifida, preventing spina bifida, diagnosing spina bifida, types of spina bifida, and treatment and care of spina bifida at http://spinabifida.myguidesusa.com