

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers
Q: Why can’t I wait until I’m pregnant—or planning to get pregnant to start taking folic acid?

A: Birth defects of the brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida) happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy; often before you find out you're pregnant. By the time you realize you’re pregnant, it might be too late to prevent those birth defects. Also, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.


Q: I'm planning to get pregnant this month. Is it too late to start taking folic acid?

A: The CDC recommends women to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant. If you are trying to get pregnant this month, or planning to get pregnant soon, start taking 400 mcg of folic acid today!

Q: I already have a child with spina bifida. Should I do anything different to prepare for my next pregnancy?

A: Women who had one pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect might have another. You may need to take a higher dose of folic acid before getting pregnant and during the first few months of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to discuss what's best for you.

Q: Can’t I get enough folic acid by eating a well-balanced healthy diet?

A: It is hard to eat a diet that has all the nutrients you need every day. Even with careful planning, you might not get all the vitamins you need from your diet alone. That’s why it’s important to take a vitamin with folic acid every day.

Q: I can’t swallow large pills. How can I take a vitamin with folic acid?


A single serving of many breakfast cereals also has the amount of folic acid that a woman needs each day. Check the label! Look for cereals that have 100% daily value (DV) of folic acid in a serving, which is 400 micrograms (mcg).


A: Many stores offer a single folic acid supplement for just pennies a day. Another good choice is a store brand multivitamin, which includes more of the vitamins a woman needs each day. Unless your doctor suggests a special type, you do not have to choose among vitamins for women or active people. A basic multivitamin meets the needs of most women.


A: Make it easy to remember by taking your vitamin at the same time every day. Try taking your vitamin when you:

  • Brush your teeth, OR
  • Eat breakfast, OR
  • Finish your shower, OR
  • Brush your hair, OR

Seeing the vitamin bottle on the bathroom or kitchen counter can help you remember it, too. If you use a cell phone or PDA, you can program it to give you a daily reminder. If you have children, you can take your vitamin when they take theirs.


Q: Are there other health benefits of taking folic acid?

A: Folic acid might help to prevent some other Birth defects , such as cleft lip and palate and some heart defects. There might also be other health benefits of taking folic acid for both women and men. More research is needed to confirm these other health benefits. All adults should take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.

Q: "Is it better to take more than 400 mcg of folic acid every day?

A: When taking supplements, more is not better. Women who can get pregnant (whether planning to or not) need just 400 mcg of folic acid daily, and they can get this amount from vitamins or fortified foods. This is in addition to eating foods rich in folate. But, your doctor might ask you to take more for certain reasons.

Q: What is folate and how is it different from folic acid?

A: Folate and folic acid are often used interchangeably. They're different forms of the same B vitamin. Folate is found naturally in some foods, such as leafy, dark green vegetables, citrus fruits and juices, and beans.

The body does not use folate as easily as folic acid. It is difficult to eat enough foods that are high in folate each day to help prevent neural tube defects. Women who can get pregnant should consume 400 micrograms of folic acid in addition to to eating a varied diet rich in natural food folate.

Q: What is "synthetic" folic acid?

A: The terms, "folic acid" and "synthetic folic acid" mean the same thing. They both refer to the man-made form of the B vitamin folate that is added to vitamins and some foods. In the United States, foods labeled as "enriched", such as bread, pasta, rice, and some breakfast cereals, have been fortified with folic acid.

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