What is folic acid?

Folic acid is the synthetic (man-made) form of a B vitamin, folate. Folate is found naturally in some foods. Folic acid can be found in multivitamins and as a folic acid-only supplement.

The recommended dose of folic acid for most women is 400 micrograms per day. Pregnant women should get at least 600 micrograms of folic acid per day. This dose is important for the healthy development of a fetus's neural tube, which becomes its brain and spinal cord. A lack of folic acid may result in a severe birth defect called a neural tube defect (NTD). Women who are or may become pregnant are encouraged to take folic acid supplements in addition to eating foods high in folate.

September 2009