One of the most important things a mother can do to help prevent serious birth defects in her baby is to get enough folic acid every day, especially before conception and during the early months of pregnancy. Adequate folic acid intake is very important to prevent other medical conditions in both men and women.

What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a naturally occurring B vitamin (B9) that is found mostly in leafy green vegetables (like kale and spinach), orange juice and enriched grains. Folic acid helps a baby’s neural tube (the part of a developing baby that later becomes the brain and spinal cord) develop properly. It must be taken before and during early pregnancy when the neural tube is developing. Various studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception (at least one month) and during early pregnancy (first three months) reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect by about 70%.
The most common neural tube defects are spina bifida (an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column), anencephaly (severe underdevelopment of the brain) and encephalocoele (when brain tissue protrudes from an abnormal opening in the skull). All these defects occur during the first 28 days of pregnancy – usually before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Many pregnancies in Anguilla are unplanned, therefore all women of childbearing age are being encouraged to get enough folic acid at all times.

How does folic acid work?
Folic acid prevents birth defects of the brain and spinal cord and some studies suggest that it also protect women and men from heart disease, stroke, colon cancer and breast cancer. Doctors and scientists are still not sure how it works, but we do know that folic acid is crucial in the development of DNA. As a result, folic acid plays a large role in cell growth and development, as well as tissue formation.

Where can you get folic acid?
You can get folic acid by eating a healthy diet. The following foods contain folic acid:
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Back beans
• Peanuts
• Orange juice
• Broccoli
Many individuals in Anguilla might not eat enough of these foods, therefore all women of reproductive age are encouraged to take folic acid supplements. Most multivitamins have folic acid, or you can take a folic acid tablet every day. Folic acid has no known toxic levels, unlike some other vitamins.

Previous pregnancy affected by neural tube defect
If your previous pregnancy was affected by a neural tube defect you should talk to your obstetrician/gynaecologist prior to planning a subsequent pregnancy. Your doctor might recommend that you increase your daily intake of folic acid even higher than 400 micrograms to lower your risk of having another occurrence.

Conclusion
Folic acid is a very important vitamin and has been shown that it can prevent serious birth defects. Folic acid has also been shown to prevent other medical disorders, some of which can be life threatening. All women of child bearing age should ensure that they eat healthy and eat foods that contain folic acid. They should also take folic acid supplements to prevent serious birth defects in their babies.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr. Brett Hodge is an obstetrician/gynaecologist and family doctor who has over twenty years in clinical practice. Dr. Hodge has a medical practice in the Johnson Building in The Valley.

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