1. Help Protect Infants By Consuming Folate
Healthy foods for pregnant women [Photograph], Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
By: Jake Wiseman
Longwood University
HLTH 335
(Healthy, 2013)

2. General Background Folate is a form of a water-soluble B vitamin
In the United States, there are 3,000 pregnancies affected by spina bifida or anencephaly each year.
Hispanic/Latina women have a higher rate of NTD-affected pregnancies than non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women.
The total lifetime cost of care for a child born with spina bifida is estimated to be $560,000.
Did You Know?
Folate is a form of a water-soluble B vitamin
Occurs naturally in foods
Synthetic form (Folic Acid) is used to fortify foods
If taken before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine by 70%
Women need 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, 600 micrograms during pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Folic acid homepage. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
(Centers for Disease and Prevention, 2011)

3. (Abi Assi, n.d.) Food Serving Folate (mcg) Fortified breakfast cereal
1 cup
Orange juice (from concentrate)
6 ounces 83
Spinach (cooked)
1/2 cup
132
Asparagus (cooked)
1/2 cup (~ 6 spears)
134
Lentils (cooked)
179
Garbanzo beans (cooked)
141
Lima beans (cooked) 78
Bread
1 slice
20 (Folic acid)*
Pasta (cooked)
60 (Folic acid)*
Rice (cooked)
Abi Assi, K. (n.d.). Folic acid and depression. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
Abi Assi, K. (n.d.). Folic acid and depression [Photograph]. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
(Abi Assi, n.d.)

4. DRIs for Folate in Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE)
Recommended Dietary Intake for Folate in Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE)
Life Stage
Age
Males (mcg/day)
Females (mcg/day)
Infants
0-6 months
65 ( AI )
7-12 months
80 (AI)
Children
1-3 years
150
4-8 years
200
9-13 years
300
Adolescents
14-18 years
400
Adults
19- years +
Pregnancy
all ages -
600
Breast-feeding
500
Abi Assi, K. (n.d.). Folic acid and depression. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
(Abi Assi, n.d.)

5. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Folic Acid
Age
Male
Female
Pregnancy
Lactation
Birth to 6 months
Not possible to establish*
7–12 months
1–3 years
300 mcg
4– 8 years
400 mcg
9–13 years
600 mcg
14–18 years
800 mcg
19+ years
1,000 mcg
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2012). Folate. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
* Breast milk, formula, and food should be the only sources of folate for infants.
(Office, 2012)

6. Function & Health Benefits
Helps prevent:
Heart disorders
Stroke
Cancer
Birth defects
It also provides relief from mental and emotional disorders.
Your bone marrow produces more than 65 million new red blood cells each day for every 10 pounds of body weight. This remarkable production rate requires a constant supply of folate as well as iron, vitamin B-12 and other nutrients.
Organic Facts. (2013). Health benefits of vitamin b9 or folic acid. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
Andrews, T. (2011). What is the function of folic acid?. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
(Organic, 2013)
(Andrews, 2011)

7. Related Deficiencies/Symptoms
Deficiency symptoms include:
Anemia
Loss of memory
Restricted brain and nerve growth
Paranoia
Weakness
Skin cracking
Sore tongue
Organic Facts. (2013). Health benefits of vitamin b9 or folic acid. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
Rosacea. (2012). The treatment folic acid for rosacea [Photograph]. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
* If you do not consume enough folate or have a deficiency, you can take folic acid supplements.
(Rosacea, 2012)
(Organic, 2013)

8. Overdose Precautions & Other Issues
Though an overdose of folate is rare, it can lead to permanent nerve damage. Amounts greater than 400 micrograms a day should not be taken by anyone with anemia unless a diagnosis of pernicious anemia is completely ruled out.
Symptoms of folate overdose:
Insomnia
Cognitive disturbances
Nausea
Swelling of tongue, mouth
Hives on skin
OverDoseInfo.com. (2012). Folic acid overdose- symptoms, dosage, and treatment. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
(OverDoseInfo, 2012)

9. Summary Question #1
What type of vitamin is folate?
- B vitamin

10. How many micrograms of folate do women need during pregnancy?
Summary Question #2
How many micrograms of folate do women need during pregnancy?
- 600 micrograms

11. Work Cited
Refrences
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Folic acid homepage. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
Abi Assi, K. (n.d.). Folic acid and depression. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2012). Folate. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
Organic Facts. (2013). Health benefits of vitamin b9 or folic acid. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from: acid.html
Andrews, T. (2011). What is the function of folic acid?. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
OverDoseInfo.com. (2012). Folic acid overdose- symptoms, dosage, and treatment. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from:
Images
Healthy foods for pregnant women [Photograph], Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
Abi Assi, K. (n.d.). Folic acid and depression [Photograph]. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from:
Rosacea. (2012). The treatment folic acid for rosacea [Photograph]. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from: