Explain the importance of folic acid supplements for women of childbearing age

What will be an ideal response?

Taking a folic acid supplement around the time of conception reduces by more than 70 percent abnormalities of the neural tube, such as anencephaly and spina bifida. Folic acid supplementation early in pregnancy also reduces the risk of other physical defects, including cleft lip and palate, urinary tract abnormalities, and limb deformities. Furthermore, adequate folic acid intake during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy cuts in half the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. Because of these findings, U.S. government guidelines recommend that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 milligrams of folic acid per day. For women who have previously had a pregnancy affected by neural tube defect, the recommended amount is 4 or 5 milligrams (dosage must be carefully monitored, as excessive intake can be harmful). About half of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned, so government regulations mandate that bread, flour, rice, pasta, and other grain products be fortified with folic acid. Mandatory grain fortification has resulted in substantial reductions in neural tube defects in the United States and other nations.