Women of Childbearing Age Need to Know More About Folate And Birth Defects

An Important Mother's Day Message from The American Dietetic Association

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CHICAGO, May 4, 1999 -- In the United States, approximately 4000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects each year; 50% - 70% of these developmental defects could be prevented if women consumed adequate daily amounts of folate or folic acid, either through their eating plans or by taking supplements. Recent studies in The Journal of The American Dietetic Association offer clear evidence that many women still have much to learn about folate and its crucial role in preventing birth defects.

In a survey of low-income pregnant women in Atlanta, most did not know that folate prevents neural tube defects such as spina bifida, couldn't define folate, couldn't name one food that contains it and did not take folic acid supplements. And more than 75 percent of residents of low-income neighborhoods in Hartford, Conn., had never heard of spina bifida or neural tube defects; four out of five did not know which nutrients can prevent neural tube defects; and the same number could not say whether or not a particular food was a good source of folate.

"This worries me, that women don't know about the importance of folate, because it is such a simple solution to problems that can cause such heartache," says ADA spokesperson Elizabeth Ward, a Boston registered dietitian and author of the association's book, "Pregnancy Nutrition: Good Health for You and Your Baby" (Chronimed Publishing, 1998).

"Folate is not the only nutrient that's important in pregnancy, but in terms of being something women can do to have healthy babies, it's one of the most important things they can do," Ward says.

Folate occurs naturally in leafy vegetables, lentils, orange juice and other foods. (See below for a partial list of foods and their folate content.) In addition to preventing birth defects, folate helps red blood cells develop and may help protect against heart disease. Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, is used in vitamin supplements. And since January 1998, enriched grain products sold in the United States, such as cereals and pasta, have been fortified with folic acid.

The National Academy of Sciences recommends all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folate each day, but the average intake by American women is barely half that amount.

"Since at least half of all pregnancies in this country are unplanned, and neural tube defects occur before most women know they're pregnant, every woman needs to consume folic acid during her childbearing years," says Ward. "Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity to make women aware of the benefits of folic acid and encourage them to consume the recommended daily amount."

The American Dietetic Association is a member of the National Council on Folic Acid, a coalition of organizations and government agencies working to increase consumption of folate.

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, this past January the council held a conference in Washington, D.C., and kicked-off a national campaign to educate health professionals and the public on the importance of folate.

Here is a partial list of foods that are good sources of folate:

* Based on a Daily Value of 400 micrograms

ADA strongly advises people to get their nutrients through foods first. For some, including pregnant women and women of childbearing age, the elderly, strict vegans or others unable to eat a variety of foods, supplementation may be warranted.

For more information on the benefits of folate women can visit ADA's Web site at http://www.eatright.org or send a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to NCND-Folate, 216 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Ill., 60606-6995 to receive a free fact sheet.

The Chicago-based ADA is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. With nearly 70,000 members, ADA serves the public by promoting nutrition, health and well-being.

CONTACT: Doris Acosta, ext. 4822, or M. Johnna Thomas, ext. 4769, both of the American Dietetic Association, 1-800-877-1600