Medical professionals recommend that women take a folic acid supplement in addition to eating a regular healthy diet both before and during pregnancy. Total recommended intake of folic acid is between 400 ug (0.4 mg) and 600 ug (0.6 mg) per day.1 Women who follow these guidelines are less likely to have babies with certain birth defects, especially neural tube defects.
Women who have had a previous pregnancy with a neural tube defect have an increased need for folic acid, and experts recommend they take a higher dose—4000 mcg (4 mg)—during pregnancy.2
References
Citations
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (2008). Dietary reference intakes (DRIs): Recommended intakes for individuals, vitamins. In LK Mahan, S Escott-Stump, eds., Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy, 12th ed. St Louis: Saunders Elsevier.
Group Health Cooperative (2001). Recommendation: Folate. In Nutrition Guideline, DP-1048, pp. 10–29. Seattle: Group Health Cooperative.
Credits
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology |
| Last Updated | December 23, 2008 |
