Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Folic Acid: Topic Home
Why Folic Acid is So
Important
Folic acid is a B vitamin. It is used in our bodies to make new cells. If a
woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can
help prevent major birth defects of her baby’s brain and spine. These birth
defects are called neural tube defects or NTDs. Women need to take folic acid
every day starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs. more
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