HINT: While it's important
to eat a healthy diet, the EASIEST way to get the right amount of folic acid
everyday is to take 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid. Taking a vitamin
supplement containing folic acid is an easy way to get enough folic acid. Almost
all over-the-counter multivitamins contain 400 micrograms (0.4 milligram) of
folic acid, the amount recommended to prevent NTDs. The label on a multivitamin
container will list a vitamin supplement's contents. Recently, more stores are
carrying supplements containing folic acid alone. The cost of vitamins can vary
considerably, but women can buy vitamins containing folic acid for as little as
50 cents to $1.00 a month. On January 1, 1998, the U. S. Food and Drug
Administration ordered that all enriched cereal or grain products be fortified
at a level of 140 micrograms (0.14 milligram) of folic acid per 100 grams of
grain product. While this level of fortification offers some protection against
NTDs, most women will not get enough folic acid through fortified grain products
alone.
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