Supplements: Flushing your money down the toilet in expensive urine

[pnwmom]

22. Aren't fertile women "normal" people? Funny, I thought we were.

Since half of all pregnancies are unplanned, doctors still strongly advocate that any woman who "might" get pregnant -- even accidentally -- take multivitamins containing 400 mg of folic acid. An additional supplement is recommended during pregnancy. This has been proven to reduce the rate of spina bifida and other serious defects.

From the CDC:

http://m.cdc.gov/en/HealthSafetyTopics/LifeStagesPopulations/Pregnancy/QAfolicAcid

Q: Why can’t I wait until I’m pregnant—or planning to get pregnant to start taking folic acid?

A: Birth defects of the brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida) happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy; often before you find out you're pregnant. By the time you realize you’re pregnant, it might be too late to prevent those birth defects. Also, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.

These are two reasons why it is important for all women who can get pregnant to be sure to get 400 mcg of folic acid every day, even if they aren’t planning a pregnancy any time soon.


Q: Can’t I get enough folic acid by eating a well-balanced healthy diet?

A: It is hard to eat a diet that has all the nutrients you need every day. Even with careful planning, you might not get all the vitamins you need from your diet alone. That’s why it’s important to take a vitamin with folic acid every day.




http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/take-folic-acid-before-youre-pregnant.aspx

Who should take folic acid?
All women, even if they’re not trying to get pregnant, should take folic acid.

Folic acid helps prevent NTDs only if taken before pregnancy and during the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman may even know she’s pregnant. Because nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, it's important that all women take folic acid every day.

How can you get folic acid?
Before pregnancy, take a multivitamin that has 400 micrograms of folic acid in it every day. Most multivitamins have this amount, but check the label to be sure.

During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has 600 micrograms of folic acid in it. Your health care provider can prescribe a prenatal vitamin for you. You can also get prenatal vitamins over the counter without a prescription.

Most women don’t need more than 1,000 micrograms of folic acid each day. But some women, like those who’ve had a pregnancy affected by NTDs or women with sickle cell disease, may need more. Talk to your provider to make sure you get the right amount.

Can you get folic acid from food?
Yes. Some flour, breads, cereals and pasta have folic acid added to them. Look for “fortified” or “enriched” on the package to know if the product has folic acid in it. Even if you eat fortified or enriched foods, be sure to keep taking your multivitamin or prenatal vitamin with folic acid.