The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) today urged all women — and particularly young women — to make sure they get enough folic acid.

“All women, especially younger women ages 18-24 years, need to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily through supplements, fortified foods, or both in addition to a folate-rich diet to prevent serious birth defects”

called neural tube defects, which affect the brain and spinal cord.

That recommendation goes for any woman of childbearing age, even if she’s not trying to conceive, since many pregnancies aren’t planned.

Among all age groups, young women were the least aware about folic acid consumption.

The CDC got that information from a 2007 survey of some 2,000 women aged 18-45. The survey, conducted by the Gallup Organization for the March of Dimes, appears in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; it has a margin of error of two or three percentage points.

Sources of Folic Acid

Folic acid is found in many vitamin and mineral supplements. It’s also been added to most enriched breads, flours, and other grain products for the last 10 years.

Folate, a B-vitamin that’s the natural form of folic acid, is found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach and turnip greens, as well as in black-eyed peas and beef liver.

The March of Dimes is teaming up with the Grain Foods Foundation to create a seal that says “Folic Acid for a Healthy Pregnancy” for products enriched with folic acid.