Folic acid helps prevents birth defects

BOSTON (WWLP) - Health experts say that taking a daily multivitamin containing the B vitamin folic acid is one of the best ways to prevent birth defects.

Yet, only about one-third of women actually take a daily vitamin containing folic acid when pregnant. Holyoke Representative Aaron Vega has filed a bill that aims to increase public awareness campaigns on the importance of folic acid to patients and doctors. The bill ensures that education initiatives at the Department of Public Health also continue.

“It's one of those things that not a lot of people know about until you read and realize that this one little thing has a really great impact,” Representative Aaron Vega told 22News.

A health group, March of Dimes, says women should women of childbearing age should take 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, while pregnant women should take 600 micrograms daily.