Folic acid supplementation by women of childbearing age recommended by IoM.
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION FOR ALL WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE recommended by the Institute of Medicine Food & Nutrition Board in an April 7 report on Dietary Reference Intakes for forms of B vitamins (including folate) and choline. The report suggests all women of childbearing age ingest 400 mcg of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of having a child with neural tube defects such as spina bifida. IoM's Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Referrence Intakes and its "Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline" and Subcommittee on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients prepared the report.