Not enough U.S. women taking folic acid

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Forty percent of U.S. women of childbearing age are taking daily multivitamin supplements containing folic acid before pregnancy, a study found.

The most recent March of Dimes/Gallup survey found only 12 percent of women ages 18 to 45 know that folic acid should be consumed prior to pregnancy.

"Unfortunately, most women don't realize they should have sufficient levels of folic acid in their bodies long before they consider having a baby," gynecologist Dr. Judith Reichman said in a statement. "Given the number of unplanned pregnancies, if women are sexually active, it is critical that they pay attention to their diet, take a daily multivitamin containing folic acid and consume folic acid-rich foods every day."

Daily consumption of folic acid beginning before pregnancy is crucial because birth defects of the brain and spine known as neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, can occur in the early weeks following conception -- often before a woman knows she is pregnant.

The March of Dimes advises women take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid every day before pregnancy and during early pregnancy as well as eat a healthy diet that includes fortified breakfast cereals, dried beans, leafy green vegetables and orange juice.