Press Release
DECEMBER 30th, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE: 561-671-4013
FAX:
561-837-5197 |
PALM BEACH
COUNTY, FL – The
Palm Beach County Health
Department in conjunction
with the National Council on
Folic Acid celebrates
National Folic Acid
Awareness Week (January 4 -
10) to increase awareness of
the importance of this
crucial nutrient. Folic acid
is a B-vitamin that is
necessary for proper cell
growth. If taken before and
during early pregnancy
either from a multi-vitamin
or fortified foods, folic
acid can prevent from 50% up
to 70% of some forms of
serious birth defects of the
brain and spine.
Although all enriched
cereals and grain products
in the U.S. are fortified
with the B-vitamin folic
acid, only one-third of U.S.
women of childbearing age
consume the recommended
amount. Taking a
multivitamin with folic acid
every day is a key way that
women can get the
recommended amount of 400
mcg (micrograms).
Fifty percent of all pregnancies in the United States are
unplanned. Many of the 65
million women of
childbearing age are in the
dark about what they need to
do before they become
pregnant to guard against
birth defects. The latest
information on folic acid
research is readily
available on a new web site
www.folicacidinfo.org to
educate women and their
families about the benefits
of this vitamin in reducing
neural tube birth defects
such as Spina Bifida.
“Women especially need folic acid, even if not planning to
become pregnant, since half
of all pregnancies are not
planned,” said Women,
Infants and Children (WIC)
Nutrition Outreach
Coordinator Janice Campbell.
“In addition, Hispanic
babies are 1.5 to 2 times
more likely than others in
the United States to be born
with a neural tube defect (NTD)
such as Spina Bifida.” The
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reports that
Latinas in the United States
consume the least amount of
folic acid and have the
least knowledge about folic
acid among racial or ethnic
groups in this country
Campbell also advises:
-
Taking a multivitamin
with folic acid every
day.
-
Eat fortified and
enriched foods such as
grains, pastas, or
breakfast cereals
-
Get regular prenatal
care beginning in your
first trimester of
pregnancy
-
Eat a variety of foods
as part of a healthy
diet
Taking a simple quiz at
www.folicacidinfo.org will
increase your knowledge of
folic acid. You can also
download fact sheets or
access links to more
resources on this beneficial
B-vitamin. Information is
available in English and
Spanish.
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