You can make a difference!
“One of the most exciting medical findings of the last part of the 20th century is that folic acid, a simple, widely available, water-soluble vitamin can prevent spina bifida and anencephaly. Not since the rubella vaccine became available 30 years ago have we had a comparable opportunity for primary prevention of such common and serious birth defects.” – G. Oakley, MD, JAMA, March 10, 1993
In North Carolina, about 200 pregnancies per year are affected by a neural tube defect (NTD). Over half of these babies will never be born. The others will be born with some degree of disability ranging from mild to severe. In some cases, the disability will cause the baby to be stillborn or die within days after birth. Taking a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during the earliest stages of pregnancy can reduce up to 70 percent of NTDs. Recent studies show that periconceptional multivitamin use may also reduce the risk of other major birth defects, such as orofacial clefts, congenital heart defects and urinary defects. In addition, folic acid may help reduce the risk for heart disease, stroke and colon cancer.
The North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign has found that encouraging women to take a multivitamin instead of a folic acid pill is a more effective method of influencing behavior change. Focus group testing in North Carolina revealed that young women are not interested in hearing about pregnancy, NTDs or folic acid. They are interested, however, in discussing weight, diet, nutrition, energy, exercise and their body in general terms. They state that they take multivitamins for non-pregnancy-related health issues and that they are unlikely to take a folic acid pill alone. You will see this reflected in our materials and on other sections of this Web site.
As a health professional, you are an important motivator to change patient behavior. Studies have shown that a simple recommendation from a health professional is a major reason why women take supplements. Almost 90 percent of women say they’d take multivitamins at their doctor’s recommendation; 99 percent of Latina women surveyed in North Carolina stated they would take a multivitamin if their health care provider recommended it. Patients value the opinion of their health care provider. Tell your patients, even those not planning a pregnancy, to take a multivitamin with folic acid daily.
Click on the links below to find out more about why talking to your patients about folic acid is so important:
- About folic acid
- About birth defects
- About multivitamins
- Current recommendations
- Starting the conversation
- References
- Free materials and resources
This web site is designed for informational use only; it is not designed to give advice or cure or treat any medical condition you may have. If you have any questions about your health, please contact your health care provider. If you need immediate medical attention, please call 911.
Click here for information about the Statewide Multivitamin Distribution Program.
