Question 1

I’m not thinking about becoming pregnant right now. Why do I need to take a multivitamin with folic acid in it?

Accepted Answer

About 50% of pregnancies are unintended.
Folic acid is most important to the development of a baby in the early weeks of pregnancy. At this early stage, many people don’t know that they are pregnant.

For information about birth control, go here.

Question 2

Why is folic acid so important?

Accepted Answer

Taking a multivitamin with folic acid in it can help to prevent certain birth defects. For this reason, it’s recommended that all people who could become pregnant (even if they are not planning a pregnancy) take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day.
NTDs happen in the early weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube (the part of the developing baby that will become the brain and spinal cord) doesn’t close properly.
Even if you are not planning a pregnancy, if you do become pregnant, taking a multivitamin with folic acid in it every day can help to lower the risk of having a baby with these birth defects.

Learn more about what to look for in a multivitamin.

Question 3

How much folic acid do I need?

Accepted Answer

If you’re sexually active and could become pregnant, take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day.
The label of the multivitamin will tell you the amount of folic acid or folate it has in it. Look for 'folic acid' or 'folate' on the label where the vitamins are listed.

Take the recommended daily dose of the multivitamin. More than the daily dose is not necessary and may give you too much of some vitamins and minerals. When taking multivitamin supplements, more is NOT better.

To help you to remember to take the multivitamin every day, set up a regular routine that works for you.
For example, take your multivitamin when you brush your teeth in the morning.

Question 4

Don’t I get enough folic acid (folate) from food?

Accepted Answer

It’s hard to get the amount of folic acid you need from food alone. The best way to get enough folic acid is:


 	Take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day

     AND

 	Include foods in your daily meals and snacks that naturally contain folate or that are fortified with folic acid

Examples:

 	ready-to-eat cereals
 	enriched breads and pasta
 	dark green vegetables (e.g. peas, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli)
 	citrus fruits like oranges
 	beans and lentils

Question 5

What’s the difference between folate and folic acid?

Accepted Answer

Folic acid and folate describe one of the B vitamins that your body needs for good health.
Folate is what is naturally found in foods. Foods that naturally have folate in them include:

 	whole grain breads
 	dark green vegetables (e.g. broccoli, spinach, peas and brussels sprouts)
 	citrus fruits like oranges
 	dried peas, beans and lentils

Folic acid is added to foods (called fortification).

Foods that are fortified with folic acid include:

 	enriched bread
 	enriched pasta
 	most breakfast cereals

Read food labels to find out if the food is fortified with folic acid.

Both 'folic acid' and 'folate' are the names that you will find on the label of a multivitamin that contains this B vitamin.

Folic Acid

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