Women: Are You Getting
Enough Folate?

The B-vitamin folate helps new cells in your body grow and survive. Pregnant women who don’t get enough folate are much more likely to have babies with neural tube defects. This sometimes-fatal condition occurs when the brain and spinal cord don’t form properly.

Low folate levels also can cause a woman’s baby to be born early or to weigh too little. Folate is most important before pregnancy and during its early stages. However, studies have found that only one-third of women ages 15 to 44 take in enough folate. As many as one-third of pregnant women also fall short.

The U.S. government recommends that all women and girls age 14 and older get 400 micrograms of folate each day. Pregnant women should get 600 micrograms. If you are or plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about folate supplements. Also, focus on eating foods rich in folate or its synthetic version, folic acid. These include:

• enriched grain products, such as cereal and pasta
• leafy green vegetables
• citrus fruits
• dried beans.