The protective effect of folic acid is achieved when the 0.4 milligrams of the vitamin is consumed at least one month prior to conception and through the first six weeks of pregnancy. NTD's by at lest fifty percent. Check the label to be sure. Folic acid and vitamin B6 are both B vitamins, but they do not have the same structure or function. Foods high in folic acid are fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and cereals.
Meat is a relatively poor source of folic acid, with the exception of beef and chicken liver.
Women who have the previous NTD pregnancy are twenty times more likely to have recurrence during the next pregnancy. Instant cereal is fortified with folic acid, but bread currently is not. The FDA may decide soon to allow fortification of folic acid in flour. Of orange juice contains about 0.1 milligram of folic acid. Return to folic acid home page.