Who should take folic acid?

Women who are planning to get pregnant

Folic Acid 101

1.

Folic Acid is
- A.
  
  A water-soluble B vitamin
- B.
  
  A fat-soluble B vitamin
- C.
  
  A water-soluble D vitamin
- D.
  
  A fat-soluble D vitamin
Correct Answer
A. A water-soluble B vitamin

Explanation
A. Folic acid is also known as water-soluble Vitamin B9. Because it is water soluble, and its excess is excreted in the urine, folic acid is considered a safe dietary nutrient.

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2.

Cooking and storage can destroy some of the folate in foods.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True
3.

Which cereal(s) have 100% of the daily value of folic acid in one serving?
- A.
  
  General Mills Cheerios
- B.
  
  Kellogg's Special K
- C.
  
  General Mills Corn Flakes
- D.
  
  All of the Above
Correct Answer
D. All of the Above

Explanation
All of these cereals contain 100% of the daily value of folic acid, 400 micrograms. To find out more about which cereals contain 100 percent of the daily value of folic acid, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/cereals.htm.

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4.

Enriched white bread has less folic acid than whole grain or whole wheat bread.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
FALSE. White bread has twice as much folic acid as whole grain or whole wheat bread, according to the March of Dimes.

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5.

95 percent of women with neural-defected pregnancies have family history of the disease.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
FALSE. 95 percent of women with neural-defected pregnancies have no family history of the defects according to the Spina Bifida Association (http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org).

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6.

Folic acid is important for everyone—not just women.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
TRUE. Folic acid creates healthy new cells and produces normal red blood cells, reducing the risk of high blood pressure, and resisting mutations associated with cancer development.

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7.

Women should take _____ micrograms of folic acid every day.
- A.
  
  100
- B.
  
  200
- C.
  
  300
- D.
  
  400
Correct Answer
D. 400
8.

Brain and spinal cord birth defects occur during the first month of pregnancy.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
According to health professionals and The Nemours Foundation, neural defects occur during the first month of pregnancy.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/birth_defects.html

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9.

Who should take folic acid?
- A.
  
  All women of childbearing age
- B.
  
  Women who are planning to get pregnant
- C.
  
  Pregnant women
- D.
  
  No one
Correct Answer
A. All women of childbearing age

Explanation
According to the March of Dimes, 50% of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned. Therefore, all women of childbearing age should have folic acid in their daily diets.

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10.

Most women get enough folic acid in their everyday diet.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
According to the most recent March of Dimes/Gallup survey and the CDC’s most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report, less than 50 percent of women get enough folic acid in their everyday diet.

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11.

The best food source of folic acid for pregnant women is:
- A.
  
  Liver
- B.
  
  Milk
- C.
  
  Oranges
- D.
  
  Oatmeal
Correct Answer
D. Oatmeal

Explanation
The healthiest source of folic acid is cereal. Since 1998, the FDA has required flour, pasta and cereal manufacturers to fortify their products with folic acid. While liver provides the highest concentration of folic acid, it contains too much vitamin A to be safe for pregnant women to eat. To learn more about Vitamin A, visit the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements at: http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamina.asp#h7

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Folic Acid 101

Folic Acid is

Cooking and storage can destroy some of the folate in foods.

Which cereal(s) have 100% of the daily value of folic acid in one serving?

Enriched white bread has less folic acid than whole grain or whole wheat bread.

95 percent of women with neural-defected pregnancies have family history of the disease.

Folic acid is important for everyone—not just women.

Women should take _____ micrograms of folic acid every day.

Brain and spinal cord birth defects occur during the first month of pregnancy.

Who should take folic acid?

Most women get enough folic acid in their everyday diet.

The best food source of folic acid for pregnant women is: