October 18, 2006

In recognizing October as Spina Bifida Awareness Month, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is urging all women of childbearing age to get the proper amount of folic acid every day to help reduce the risk of the serious birth defect.

Spina bifida, a neural tube defect (NTD), and anencephaly, are serious birth defects of the spine and brain that can occur in any family. More than 1,000 Michigan babies have been born with an NTD since 1992. Despite advances in medical treatment, approximately 1 in 10 children born with spina bifida do not survive their first year of life.

"The data suggests that taking 400 micrograms of folic acid - a B vitamin necessary for cell growth - before and during very early pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects by up to 70 percent," said Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan Surgeon General. "To get enough folic acid every day, women should take a daily multivitamin containing folic acid and eat a variety of foods, including fortified grains, as part of a healthy diet."

With the support of a March of Dimes Chapter Community Grant, MDCH is working to ensure that women receive enough folic acid. Multivitamins containing folic acid are being distributed free of charge to low-income women of childbearing age living in counties with a higher than average rate of NTDs. The target counties include Branch, Hillsdale, Ionia, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Oceana, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Wexford. The vitamins are distributed through WIC and Planned Parenthood centers.

Emerging research shows that folic acid may also reduce the risk of other birth defects, such as cleft lip, cleft palate, and heart defects. Folic acid also plays a role in promoting general health and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, as well as protect the brain from Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. In light of these promising research findings, Wisdom encourages men and women of all ages to take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.

For more information about folic acid, please visit the Michigan Genetics Connection website at www.MIgeneticsconnection.org, the National Council on Folic Acid at www.folicacidinfo.org, the March of Dimes at www.marchofdimes.com, or the Spina Bifida Association of America at www.sbaa.org.