#FolicacidPH

• There is a need to increase the awareness of the Filipino public in the importance of folic acid in the prevention of birth defects, specifically neural tube defects.

• There is a need to promote consumer awareness and interest on checking the nutrition labels of food products and supplements, in general.

• Disability prevention begins prior to conception. Aside from preventing disability, infant deaths due to severe NTDs such as anencephaly (incomplete development of the brain) and craniorachischisis (most severe NTD, incomplete development and closure of the brain and spinal cord) are also averted.

• The tagline “For yourself. For your future” highlights the importance of folic acid to everyone’s health, as well as its value in giving each child the best start in life. 

Everyone needs folic acid. Folic acid is a B vitamin, specifically Vitamin B9. Our bodies use it to make new cells. Folic acid is also very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain and spinal cord, also known as neural tube defects. Neural tube defects (NTDs) may result to infant death, dysmorphology (deformity) or disability. In some kinds of NTDs, corrective surgical procedures are needed in order to improve the quality of life of patients. 

Studies have shown that the intake of folic acid or vitamin B9 through supplementation and food fortification can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). In case of supplementation, proper dosage and intake schedule can lessen the risk of NTDs by up to 70%. 

Moreover, a daily intake of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid is recommended since folic acid is a water soluble vitamin. Regular consumption will ensure that its amount in the body will be replenished. On the other hand, for folic acid to help in preventing NTDs, a woman needs to start taking the vitamin at least one month before she becomes pregnant and while she is pregnant. Every woman in the reproductive age needs folic acid every day, whether she’s planning to get pregnant or not. 

In the Philippines, awareness on the significance of folic acid supplementation among Filipino women in reproductive age is presumed to be low. Furthermore, folate deficiency has been determined to exist. According to the 7th National Nutrition Survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute-DOST, 1 in every 5 pinays of childbearing age is folate deficient. Hence, there is a need for increasing public awareness on this matter, especially in the absence of a legislation for folic acid fortification, supplementation and public education.