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Folic acid effective
in the prevention of birth defects Submitted
by Barb Guthrie, Public Health Nurse
It has been shown that if women take a daily supplement of 0.4mg Folic Acid, beginning two to three months before pregnancy, the rate of neural tube defects (birth defects affecting the brain and spinal cord) can be reduced by 75%.
Supplements are recommended in addition to a healthy diet containing folate-rich foods and folic acid enriched food.
(Women with a family history of NTDs have an increased need of Folic Acid and should discuss this with their physician before pregnancy.) In 2002, Health Unit staff delivered a health promotion campaign to increase awareness of Folic Acid.
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