eInsights - January 2010

NCFA and SBA Take to the Airwaves and Net to Celebrate Folic Acid Awareness Week

From January 4-10 Spina Bifida Association (SBA) celebrated national Folic Acid Awareness Week by working to raise awareness about the importance of folic acid in reducing birth defects like Spina Bifida. Through its role in leading the National Council on Folic Acid (NCFA), SBA embarked on a radio media tour conducting interviews on stations around the country encouraging women of childbearing age to take a daily multivitamin with folic acid. SBA also promoted the launch of NCFA’s newly redesigned Web site, www.folicacidinfo.org. The site serves as a clearinghouse for all of the latest in folic acid research and information.

During the radio media tour, listeners were told that fifty percent of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned and that many women are in the dark about what they need to do before they become pregnant to guard against birth defects. By having the latest information on folic acid research readily available on this Web site and doing outreach such as these interviews, women can become more knowledgeable about the benefits of folic acid in reducing neural tube birth defects such as Spina Bifida.

“Outreach about folic acid is one of the key efforts we undertake as a partner in this vital coalition. At the cost of just a few cents a day, birth defects like Spina Bifida can be reduced by up to 70% simply by taking a multi-vitamin,” says Sara Struwe, COO of SBA and Acting Project Director of NCFA.

What is NCFA?
The National Council on Folic Acid, managed by SBA, currently has 76 members some of which include public health agencies, health organizations, local Spina Bifida Association chapters, and local folic acid councils. The organization’s mission is to improve health by promoting the benefits and consumption of folic acid.

What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken before and during early pregnancy either in a multi-vitamin or fortified foods, folic acid can prevent up to 70% of neural tube defects..

Experts recommend that women who could possibly become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid daily, from:

• Fortified foods like grains, pastas, or breakfast cereals,
• Daily multi-vitamin, and
• Eat a variety of foods as part of a healthy diet.

How much folic acid is needed for women who have had a child or a pregnancy affected by Spina Bifida?
Women who have a child or had a pregnancy affected by Spina Bifida or have Spina Bifida themselves should take 4000 mcg (4.0 mg) of folic acid for one to three months before pregnancy. This amount of folic acid is higher than what you can get in the store, so women need to see a doctor for a prescription. It is especially important for these women to plan any future pregnancy.

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