• National Center Homepage

What Should You Know?

If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.  Women need 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.

More folic acid facts »

Data and Statistics

More Data and Statistics »

Popular Links

Test Your Knowledge
How much do you know about folic acid?

Listen to This Podcast
Folic Acid: Helping to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy Information
Learn how to be healthy before, during, and after pregnancy.

 

Free Materials

Order or download free brochures, booklets, posters and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

 

Related Links

• Birth Defects
• Spina Bifida
• Anencephaly
• Healthy Pregnancy
• Planning for Pregnancy
• Preconception Care
• Women’s Health
• Sexual Health
• CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

• Page last reviewed: March 31, 2009
• Page last updated: March 31, 2009
• Content source: Division of Birth Defects, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Contact Us:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• 1600 Clifton Road
• MS E-86
• Atlanta, GA 30333
• 800-CDC-INFO
  (800-232-4636)
  TTY: (888) 232-6348
  24 Hours/Every Day
• cdcinfo@cdc.gov