Folic Acid Awareness Week is recognized the second full week in September. During Folic Acid Awareness Week, we invite you to connect with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) to celebrate the successes of folic acid supplementation and fortification in preventing serious birth defects of the spine and brain. These birth defects, spina bifida and anencephaly, are types of neural tube defects (NTDs) that develop very early in pregnancy, before most women even know they are pregnant.
Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken before and during early pregnancy, folic acid can prevent up to 70% of these serious birth defects.
Please help us share this key information with your friends, family, and networks!
schedule of events social media finding statistics other resources
Activity
MotherToBaby Folic Acid Podcast
Listen here
Target Audience: general public
CDC Webinar: Folic Acid: The Best Tool to Prevent Neural Tube Defects
Listen to the recording here
Target Audience: Health Care Providers
Daily social media posts from NBDPN
Right click the image you wish to use and select "Save image as" and save the image on your device. Go to your social media account and upload the image to your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. You can post the image alone, add your own message or choose/modify one of the sample posts provided below.
In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended people capable of becoming pregnant consume 400mcgs of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
In Spanish:
En 1992, el Servicio de Salud Pública de los EE. UU. recomendó a todas las mujeres que pueden quedar embarazadas que tomen un suplemento con 400 mcg de ácido fólico al día para prevenir defectos del tubo neural.
Did you know that about 3,000 pregnancies are affected by a defect of the spine (spina bifida) or brain (anencephaly) every year in the US? These conditions are also known as neural tube defects or NTDs. Up to 70% of NTDs can be prevented if women take daily folic acid BEFORE becoming pregnant and during early pregnancy. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Many states monitor how many babies are born with neural tube defects (NTDs) like anencephaly and spina bifida. Data from state programs show there were about 7-8 babies born with an NTD for every 10,000 live births. Folic acid helps prevent these birth defects! Take you folic acid every day. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
While many foods that include wheat flour are fortified with folic acid in the United States, other common staple foods like corn masa flour, are not fortified often. This is one reason why Latinas are more likely to have babies born with neural tube defects. No matter your diet, make sure to take 400 mcg of #folicacid daily #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
CDC has a great source of information about folic acid. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Did you know that NTDs, birth defects of the spine and brain, form before a woman even knows she is pregnant? That's why women should get 400 mcgs of folic acid every day if there is a chance they could become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Test your knowledge about folic acid by taking the Folic Acid Quiz! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTDs) form very early in pregnancy, before most women even recognize they are pregnant. Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcgs of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Some women only start taking a multivitamin when they get pregnant, but it is important to also take a daily vitamin with 400 mcgs of folic acid BEFORE pregnancy to prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Folic acid is a B vitamin important in making new cells. Folic acid protects the health of women throughout life, regardless of pregnancy plans. Even if you eat a healthy diet, it's difficult to get enough, so take a daily vitamin with 400mcgs of folic acid! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
So you have your vitamins with folic acid, but just can't seem to remember to take them daily? Use a pillbox, set doses where you see them (at work/school, on nightstand), take it when you brush your teeth, set a daily alarm, or use an app! You can do it! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Multivitamins too pricey? Try store brands or a folic acid-only supplement. Or check with your state health department to see if there are free/discounted vitamin programs in your area! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Some state health departments have free vitamin programs! If you live in Utah, check out Power Your Life or if you live in Arizona, Power Me A2Z! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Some pharmacies have free vitamin programs to ensure women can get their daily folic acid to help prevent birth defects in a future pregnancy. Find a pharmacy that participates in a vitamin program here! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Worried about taking folic acid? Even if you have an MTHFR variant, you can process all types of folate, including folic acid. Check out @CDC for the latest information on folic acid and MTHFR variants. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTDs) form very early in pregnancy, before most women even recognize they are pregnant. Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcgs of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Did you know that NTDs, birth defects of the spine and brain, form before a woman even knows she is pregnant? That's why women should get 400 mcgs of folic acid every day if there is a chance they could become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Some women only start taking a multivitamin when they get pregnant, but it is important to also take a daily vitamin with 400 mcgs of folic acid BEFORE pregnancy to prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Worried about taking folic acid? Even if you have an MTHFR variant, you can process all types of folate, including folic acid. Check out @CDC for the latest information on folic acid and MTHFR variants. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Planning to get pregnant soon? Start a healthy habit today and get 400mcg of folic acid every day. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html
In Spanish:
¿Planeas quedar embarazada pronto? Comienza un hábito saludable hoy y toma 400mcg de ácido fólico todos los días. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html #ÁcidoFólico #PowerToPrevent
Health care providers, what you say matters! Remember to advise women to take a vitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid daily to help prevent serious birth defects of the spine and brain, regardless of their intention to become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTDs) form very early in pregnancy, before most women even recognize they are pregnant. Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcgs of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
Let's celebrate 30 years of preventing serious birth defects of the spine and brain! In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended people capable of becoming pregnant consume 400mcgs of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). #folicacid #PowerToPrevent
March of Dimes PeriStats provides free access to maternal and infant health-related data at the US, state, county, and city level:
Folic Acid: self reported multivitamin use in the month before pregnancy. Source: PRAMS
Birth Defects: Prevalence of Spina Bifida or Anencephaly, Source: State and local birth defects surveillance systems
Example of Spina Bifida Prevalence from Georgia:
Folic Acid and the Prevention of Birth Defects: 30 Years of Opportunity and Controversies
Changes in Spina Bifida Lesion Level After Folic Acid Fortification in the US
Mai CT, Evans J, Alverson CJ, et al. Changes in Spina Bifida Lesion Level After Folic Acid Fortification in the US [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jun 27]. J Pediatr. 2022;S0022-3476(22)00597-2. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.06.023
Trends in Multivitamin Use Among Women of Reproductive Age: United States, 2006-2016
Wong EC, Rose CE, Flores AL, Yeung LF. Trends in Multivitamin Use Among Women of Reproductive Age: United States, 2006-2016. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2019;28(1):37-45. doi:10.1089/jwh.2018.7075
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