Why Go Folic?
The
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that
all women who could become pregnant get between 400-800
micrograms of folic acid daily.
Studies show that if all women consumed the recommended
amount of folic acid before and during early pregnancy,
up to 70 percent of all neural tube defects could
be prevented. Recent studies indicate that folic acid
supplementation may have added benefits for women's
health.
GO FOLIC! promotes the concept of healthy nutrition
and
the benefits of
daily supplementation of folic acid while enhancing
the general health and well-being of clients.
 Folic Acid Benefits Babies & Reduces Health Care
Costs
Folic acid taken before conception reduces infant
morbidity and mortality associated with folic acid
deficiency. Folic acid supplementation:
- Reduces by 70% the risk
of neural tube defects (1 in 1000 U.S. births at
an annual cost
of approximately
$294,000 per child)
- May reduce the risk for low birth
weight/premature babies (1 in
8 U.S.
births at an average cost of $49,000 during the
first year of life)
- May reduce the risk of other birth
defects, such as cleft lip and palate and defects
of the cardiovascular system and urinary tract
 Folic
isn't just for women who are thinking about getting
pregnant...
• In the U.S., 50% of all pregnancies
are unplanned. Even though NTDs occur before
most women know that they are pregnant, a 2007 March
of Dimes/Gallop
pole found that only 40% of women between the ages
of 18-45 take a daily multivitamin.
- Folic
acid plays an important role in the production
of red blood cells. Individuals who are
deficient in folic acid sometimes develop a form
of anemia called megaloblastic anemia (characterized
by
a reduced number of red blood cells).
- High levels of
the amino acid homocysteine are independently
associated with an increased risk of heart disease
and stroke. It has been shown that taking folic
acid
lowers homocysteine levels in both men and women,
but it is not yet known whether folic acid supplementation
also lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- While
further research is needed, studies have found
that supplementation
may
also reduce
the risk
of colon, cervical
and other cancers.
Medical conditions that increase the need for
folic acid include:
• pregnancy and lactation
• alcohol abuse
• malabsorption
• kidney dialysis
• liver disease
• certain anemias
Clinic-Based
Folic Acid Supplementation Works!
A 2006 project of the Michigan Department of Community
Health targeting non-pregnant women found multi-vitamin
usage increased from 35% to 82% following receipt of
free
vitamins. Other projects have seen similar results.
A systematic review of folic acid
supplementation programs (Stockley & Lund, 2008)
concluded that, "Health-care
based initiatives can be effective and are more likely
to be successful if they include making supplements
easily available... and include elements that specifically
target vulnerable women."
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Starting the Conversation