It is only given once in a lifetime and is recommended at 65 years of age. You are a candidate for this immunization if you have any of the following risk factors. Certain conditions may require a booster shot every six years. Now Women who plan on becoming pregnant in the near future should begin taking folic acid before they become pregnant. Folate is a B vitamin found in a variety of foods.
Folic acid is added to many vitamins and mineral supplements.
The two major NTDs that can be reduced by folate intake are anencephaly and spina bifida . Babies born with anencephaly do not develop a brain and are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Those born with spina bifida have an exposed spinal cord which results in different levels of disability. M-CARE's adult preventive care guidelines and prenatal care guidelines both recommend that women capable of becoming pregnant take a vitamin with 0.4 mg of folic acid daily to reduce the potential risk of having a pregnancy affected with NTDs. These two tests are commonly used to detect colon cancer.