Folic Acid: Prevents Birth Defects
Birth Defects are Serious
- Neural Tube Defects (NTD), a type of birth defect, occur when the tissue that grows into the brain and spinal cord, and the bone and skin that protect them do not develop properly.
- Spinda bifida and anencephaly are the most common NTDs.
- Approximately 3,000 pregnancies are affected by NTDs and approximately 2,200 infants are born with neural tube defects each year. (3)
Birth Defects are Costly
- In 2002, a child with spina bifida incurred costs estimated at $640,000. With 1400 births affected by spina bifida each year, that amounts to almost $1 billion in lifetime costs for each cohort. (4)
- Costs associated with NTDs are shared by parents, employers, and communities.
Folic Acid Prevents Birth Defects
- Consuming the recommended daily amount of folic acid (400 micrograms) can reduce a woman's chance of having an NTD affected pregnancy by 50%-70%. (1)
- Folic acid can be consumed via a vitamin supplement (synthetic folic acid) and through foods rich in folate such as green leafy vegetables, oranges, and fortified grains. A folic acid vitamin is recommended because it is easier for the body to digest than naturally occurring folate.
- Most women in the US do not eat enough food containing folate to meet the required daily minimum. (2)
Folic Acid Intake Must Be Sufficient Before and During Pregnancy in Order to be Protective
- Neural tube development takes place in the early stages of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
- In the US, over half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Proper folic acid intake reduces the risk of NTDs for planned and unexpected pregnancies.
Folic Acid Benefits Cardiovascular Health in Men and Women
- According to the American Heart Association, low blood levels of folic acid are linked with a higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease and stroke.
Employer Guidance
- To encourage sufficient folic acid consumption employers should:
- Educate reproductive-age women about the benefits of folic acid through health education and promotion programs, prenatal education programs, and other employee health communications.
- Encourage all reproductive-age women, especially women trying to become pregnant, to take folic acid supplements.
- Remove cost barriers associated with supplementation, when possible. Employers can add folic acid supplements to their pharmacy benefit plan or encourage employees with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to have their doctor write a prescription for folic acid so that they can use tax-deferred money to pay for the pills.
Additional Resources:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Economic costs of birth defects and cerebral palsy—United States, 1992. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 1995: 44(37): 694-649.
2. March of Dimes. Spina Bifida.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/690_4089.asp. Updated 2005. Accessed 7-6-05.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spina bifida and anencephaly before and after folic acid mandate—United States, 1995-1996 and 1999-2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2004; 53(17): 362-365.
4. Grosse SD. Waitzman NJ. Romano PS. Mulinare J. Re-evaluating the benefits of folic acid fortification in the United States: Economic analysis, regulation, and public health. American Journal of Public Health. 95 (November 2005): In press.
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