Published: Oct 15, 2000 12:00 AM
Modified: Aug 12, 2008 12:09 PM
Sources: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
FOLIC ACID
Folic acid is crucial to the proper development of a fetus, experts say.
HOW CAN WOMEN GET ENOUGH?
Take a daily vitamin supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid. But avoid taking more than one multi- vitamin per day. Too much of the other vitamins, especially vitamin A, can cause serious health problems. Eat a fortified breakfast cereal daily that contains 100 percent of the recommended daily amount of folic acid. Read labels carefully. Increase consumption of foods fortified with folic acid in addition to consuming a diet with foods rich in folic acid. (For a list of foods, see page 26A.)WHO NEEDS EXTRA FOLIC ACID?All women need folic acid, especially those who have had babies with neural tube defects and want to become pregnant again. CAN WOMEN GET TOO MUCH FOLIC ACID?Folic acid has no known toxic level, but no more than 1,000 micrograms of synthetic folic acid per day are recommended.HOW IS FOLIC ACID LISTED ON NUTRITION LABELS?On the labels, folic acid is also called "folate."
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