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Folic acid
supplementation is recognized
as the “standard of care” for women of
childbearing age, especially in prepara-
tion for and throughout pregnancy. |
Multiple controlled and
observational studies
have demonstrated that folic acid decreases
the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs).
(21-30) New data (2004) reinforces the
importance of folic acid supplementation
targeted at all women of childbearing age to
prevent NTDs. (15) Folic acid supplementation
has also been shown to decrease the inci-
dence of congenital heart disease, urinary
tract anomalies, oral facial clefts, limb
defects and pyloric stenosis. (31) In women,
only folic acid has been demonstrated in
clinical trials to decrease the incidence of
NTDs. (21-30,32,33) |
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| Other folate
sources: know the difference |
Ther-Rx
prenatal vitamins provide 1 mg folic of acid — the standard of care for pre-
scription prenatal vitamins, the same source of folate
demonstrated in clinical trials to
decrease the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs). (22,23)
Some prenatal supplements
contain significantly reduced amounts of folic acid (11,12)
and sources of folate that
have not been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of NTDs. Be sure to ask
your
healthcare provider if the prenatal vitamin you have been prescribed contains
the source
of folic acid that has been demonstrated in clinical trials to decrease the
incidence of
neural tube defects (NTDs). |
| Key to a
healthy pregnancy |
The body has a
difficult time absorbing folate from food. Folic
acid, such as that found in
Ther-Rx prenatal vitamins, is readily absorbed by the body.
Folic acid has been identified
as one of the critical components of prenatal supplementation and the inclusion
of 1 mg of
folic acid has become the prescription standard of care.
In addition to your prenatal
vitamins, foods that are rich in folate include folic acid enriched foods such
as cereals and
grains, deep green leafy vegetables, carrots, liver, egg yolk, cantaloupe,
apricots, pumpkin,
avocados, beans, and whole and dark rye flour. |
| Trust the evidence |
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In women, only folic
acid has been demonstrated in clinical trials to decrease the incidence of
neural tube defects (NTDs). (21-30,32,33) |
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All studies on the prevention of
NTDs were carried out with folic acid (21-24) |
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No published evidence in
peer-reviewed journals has been presented proving that other sources of folate
decrease the incidence of NTDs. (32)
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