Why is folate important for women of childbearing age, and what action has the FDA taken to increase the folate content of the diets of this population group? What has been the result of this FDA action?

Answer 1

By consuming enough folate during her childbearing years a woman can ensure her folate intake both before and during pregnancy is adequate. With adequate folate intake before and during pregnancy, a woman can reduce her child's risk of having one of the devastating birth defects known as neural tube defects (NTD)—abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord apparent at birth. The FDA ordered all enriched grain products such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta sold in the United States to be fortified with an absorbable synthetic form of folate, folic acid. Since this fortification began, typical folate intakes from fortified foods have increased dramatically, along with average blood folate values. Among women of childbearing age, for example, prevalence of low serum folate concentrations dropped from 21 percent before folate fortification was introduced to less than 1 percent afterward. During the same period, the U.S. incidence of NTD dropped by a fourth. Miscarriages and certain other birth defects, such as cleft lip, diminished as well.