New "Folic Acid For A Healthy Pregnancy" Seal Debuts

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 11 Jan 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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In an effort to promote increased consumption of folic acid among women of childbearing age, the March of Dimes and the Grain Foods Foundation have created a new Folic Acid for a Healthy Pregnancy seal. It will be featured on select food products at grocery and other retail stores to help women quickly and easily identify grain products that are enriched with folic acid.

Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help prevent certain serious and sometimes fatal birth defects called neural tube defects (or NTDs). Spina bifida is the most commonly known NTD. All women of childbearing age (pregnant or not) are advised to consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. Sources include multivitamins and many foods. Daily consumption of folic acid is considered key for several reasons. One, NTDs form in the early weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she's pregnant. Two, more than half of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned and unanticipated. Unfortunately (and inadvertently), many babies are therefore vulnerable to birth defects.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of folic acid fortification to enriched flour, used to make popular items like white bread, crackers, bagels, pasta, pretzels and tortillas. Since the FDA issued the mandate in 1998, NTDs have declined by 26 percent. However, two recent surveys suggest that there still is not enough understanding around folic acid's role in healthy birth outcomes.

According to a March of Dimes/Gallup survey, only 12 percent of women ages 18-45 know that folic acid should be consumed prior to pregnancy. In addition, the number of women taking multivitamin supplements containing folic acid beginning before pregnancy was only about 40 percent. According to a survey conducted by the firm Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc. on behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation, two-thirds of women erroneously believe that whole wheat and multigrain breads contain the most folic acid. Enriched white bread actually has twice as much folic acid as whole grain or whole wheat bread.

The new seal will be produced in both English and Spanish. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that Latinas consume the least amount of folic acid among U.S. ethnic groups. Hispanic babies are two times more likely to be born with NTDs.

January is Birth Defects Prevention Month and January 7-13, 2008, marks Folic Acid Awareness Week. Both initiatives share the goal of increasing awareness of the importance of folic acid in preventing birth defects. In honor of them, the March of Dimes Colorado chapter is making available (while supplies last) free Healthy Baby Planning Kits.

The Grain Foods Foundation, a joint venture of members of the milling and baking industries formed in 2004, is dedicated to advancing the public's understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the human diet. Directed by a board of trustees, funding for the foundation is provided through voluntary donations from private grain-based food companies and is supplemented by industry associations. For more information about the Grain Foods Foundation, visit http://www.grainpower.org.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, visit http://www.marchofdimes.comor http://www.nacersano.org.