Adequate levels of the B vitamin folic acid during pregnancy help protect a developing fetus from neural tube defects like spina bifida. But too many women aren’t getting as much of the vitamin as they should, says the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
Prenatal Vitamins May Not Be Early Enough:
The group that offers Americans evidence-based advice on staying healthy says fewer than one-third of women of childbearing age take a supplement containing folic acid. Because the neural tube of a fetus develops extremely early, the need for adequate amounts of the vitamin is also very early in development. Some women might not realize they are pregnant until after the most critical time has passed.
That would mean they could not start prenatal vitamins in time. That is why the USPSTF recommends a regular multivitamin with 0.4 or 0.8 milligrams of folic acid for all women who have a chance of becoming pregnant.
Folate, the form of this B vitamin found in food, is critical even for people who are not pregnant. The vitamin is necessary for proper cell division, and deficiencies can lead to a type of anemia that would cause fatigue.
Dietary Sources of Folate:
Large amounts of dietary folate are found in foods such as leafy green vegetables. (In fact, that is where the term “folate” comes from, as the Latin name for leaf is folium.) Other rich sources are fruits, nuts and legumes such as peas, lentils and beans. Eggs, seafood and whole grains also contribute folate to the diet.
Americans who eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, as we are so frequently advised to do, may be getting enough of this B vitamin in their diets already. But those who rely more on processed foods or fast-food options may end up with too little in their diets and benefit from supplements. It would make sense for pre-menopausal women to assess their own diets honestly and take a multivitamin if they aren’t eating lots of veggies and legumes.
