During Folic Acid Awareness Week (FAAW), we invite you to connect with NBDPN to celebrate the successes of folic acid in preventing serious birth defects of the spine and brain.
These birth defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly, are types of neural tube defects (NTD) that develop very early in pregnancy, before most people even know they are pregnant. Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken, either as a supplement or in fortified food, before and during early pregnancy, folic acid can prevent up to 70% of these serious birth defects. People considering pregnancy should take at least 400mcg of folic acid every day.
Please help us share this key information with your friends, family, and networks!
Activities Social Media Other Resources
Sunday 9/8 - Saturday 9/14
Social media messaging from NBDPN
Member Listening Session
Connect with us! The Folic Acid Awareness Week NBDPN workgroup is planning a member listening session of a new podcast, followed by a brief Q&A.
The member listening session will be held on September 10th at 3pm EST via Zoom. Zoom Registration Required.
It is ok to join even if you aren't an "official" NBDPN member.
Our partners at CDC and the Food Fortification Initiative are working on toolkits relating to folic acid. When they are available, they will be linked here for you to use. Stay tuned!
We have created content you can use to help spread the word about folic acid during Folic Acid Awareness Week (FAAW) or any time throughout the year!
Below are images with and without the NBDPN logo, so states and partners can use the images while staying within their communication policies. The version without NBDPN’s logo is available in both English and Spanish.
Please use these images created by NBDPN to create your own folic acid posts.
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Please use these images created by NBDPN to create your own folic acid posts. If you are restricted from using images that include branding from another organization, the versions below are made available to use without using the NBDPN branding logo.
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Today marks the start of Folic Acid Awareness Week. Tune in this week to learn more about folic acid and why it's important! #InMyFolicAcidEra
In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended people capable of becoming pregnant consume 400mcg of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). #InMyFolicAcidEra
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 400mcg de ácido fólico al día para prevenir defectos del tubo neural. #MiEraDelÁcidoFólico
Did you know that about 2,300 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 people who can become pregnant take daily folic acid BEFORE becoming pregnant and during early pregnancy. #InMyFolicAcidEra
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 babies born with an NTD for evety 10,000 live births. Folic acid helps prevent these birth defects! Take your folic acid every day. #InMyFolicAcidEra
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 Latine people are more likely to have babies born with neural tube defects. No matter your diet, make sure to take 400mcg of folic acid daily. #InMyFolicAcidEra
Did you know that NTDs, birth defects of the spine and brain, form before a person even knows they are pregnant? That's why you should get 400mcg of folic acid every day if there is a chance you could become pregnant. #InMyFolicAcidEra
Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTDs) form very early in pregnancy, before most people even know they are pregnant. People who can become pregnant and who are of childbearing age should take 400mcg of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #InMyFolicAcidEra
Some people only start taking a multivitamin when they get pregnant, but it is important to also take a daily vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid BEFORE pregnancy to prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. #InMyFolicAcidEra
Did you know you would have to eat 4 cups of broccoli a day in order to reach your recommended daily folic acid intake? Even if you eat a healthy diet, it's difficult to get enough, so take a daily vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid! Most multivitamins and other folic acid supplements have at least 400mcg per tablet. #InMyFolicAcidEra
CDC
March of Dimes
PeriStats Maternal and Infant Health-related Data
Folic Acid: self-reported multivitamin use in the month before pregnancy
Birth Defects: prevalence of Spina Bfida or Anencephaly
MotherToBaby
Unique Tools and Resources from State Programs
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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