Julie Garden-Robinson

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Folic Acid
A Vitamin Important at Any Age

• Julie Garden-Robinson
• Food and Nutrition Specialist
• Module by Bridget Curley
• Program Assistant

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• Before you begin youll take a presurvey.
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• When you are finished with the module, you will
  take a post-survey.
• The post-survey will open in a new window.
• When you are finished with the post-survey, close
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Time to Take the Pre-survey

• We would like to learn how much you know before
  taking part in this activity
• You will take the same quiz at the end of the
  lesson to see what you have learned.
• Click here to begin the presurvey!

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Defining Folic Acid

• A B vitamin the body needs to produce
• Healthy cells
• Healthy blood
• The natural form, folate, is found in some
  foods.
• The man-made form, folic acid, is found in
  fortified foods and vitamin supplements

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Why is Folic Acid Important?

• Shown to reduce 70 of birth defects
• May reduce heart disease and stroke risks
• May lower cancer risk
• All of the above

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Folic Acid and Birth Defects

• What are common birth defects affected by folic
  acid intake?
• Visit this link to find out.

• Neural Tube Defects
• Affect babys brain or spine
• Spina bifida spine and back bones do not close
  all the way
• Anencephaly brain and skull bones do not form
  correctly

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Spina bifida

• The spinal cord and back bones do not form
  correctly.
• A sac of fluid comes through an opening in the
  babys back.
• Most children live full lives but often have
  lifelong disabilities.

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Anencephaly

• The brain and skull bones do not form correctly.
• Part or all of the brain and skull bones may be
  missing.
• Babies die before or shortly after birth.

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Folic Acid and Women

• Folic acid is especially important for women
• Should a women who is not planning on having a
  baby take folic acid?
• Click here to find out.

• Yes! Every women needs folic acid to make
  healthy cells.

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True or False
True

• All women childbearing age are encouraged to
  consume 400 micrograms (mcg) daily
• This may prevent birth defects that develop
  before the woman knows she is pregnant.

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How Much Folic Acid Do You Need?
Age in Years 1-3 4-8 9-13 14-18 19
Adult (mcg/day) 150 200 300 400 400
Pregnancy (mcg/day) N/A N/A N/A 600 600
Go to the Folic Acid A Vitamin at Any Age
publication by clicking here to find out.
mcg/day means micrograms per day
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Where Can You Find Folic Acid?

• Visit this fact sheet to find out.

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What Foods Contain Folic Acid?

• Folic acid is added to some grains such as
• Pasta
• Breads
• Cereals
• Rice

• Folate is naturally found in
• Leafy green vegetables
• Cooked dry edible beans
• Broccoli
• Peanuts
• Citrus fruits

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Folic Acid on Nutrition Labels

• Did you know folic acid is listed on some
  Nutrition Facts labels (especially cereal)?
• Look here to see a sample label.

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What About Fortification?

• Why are some foods fortified with folic acid?
• Find out here.

• Not everyone takes a folic acid supplement
• Adding folic acid to foods helps people meet the
  daily recommended 400 mcg

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How Much is Too Much?

• 1000mcg is the upper limit for folic acid.
• Too much folic acid may hide Vitamin B12
  deficiencies.

Click here to find out.
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Folic Acid Absorption

• Man-made folic acid (in cereals and supplements)
  is easier for the body to use than folate
  naturally found in foods

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Is Folic Acid for Everyone?

• Folic acid has benefits for males and females.
• Click here to find out more.

• Folic acids relationship to lowering risk of
  heart disease is being studied.

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Its Time to Take the Post-survey!

• After completing all the activities and review
  questions, you are ready to take the survey. Good
  luck!
• Click here to take the survey.
• The next two slides show additional resources, so
  check those out after the survey.

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Check out these Publications

• Can we talk? about folic acid
• Folic Acid A Vitamin Important at Any Age
• Born Too Soon and Too Small Questions and
  Answers About Prematurity

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For More Information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/faqs.htm
• National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary
  Supplements
• http//dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets
  /folate.asp
• Linus Pauling Institute/Oregon State University
• http//lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/fa/
  
• March of Dimes
• www.marchofdimes.com
• North Dakota Wheat Commission
• www.ndwheat.com/uploads/resources/390/folicacidcon
  sumption.pdf