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Re-activateFrom the moment that "+" sign appears on a pregnancy test, expectant mothers (and fathers) have plenty of planning, nesting, and stressing to do before their baby's arrival. Although tasks like picking a name can wait, making sure you get enough folic acid cannot. In fact, doctors advise women to make sure they get enough of this nutrient before they even become pregnant, as this can reduce the risk of spina bifida and related birth defects.
Now, a new study suggests another reason to be vigilant about getting enough of this vitamin: a lower risk of serious heart defects.
Using government databases, researchers tracked serious heart defects among babies born in Quebec, Canada, in the 9 years before folic acid was added to grain products, and in the 7 years after. They found little variation in the annual rates of serious heart problems before folic acid was added, with around 1.64 babies in every 1,000 having these defects. In the years following, however, serious heart defects decreased, affecting around 1.47 babies in every 1,000.
Learn more about the study, and how much folic acid you should take, in the rest of this Health blog post.
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