Washington, DC – This Mother’s Day, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, and a member of the National Council on Folic Acid, urges expectant mothers to take multivitamins with folic acid to prevent Spina Bifida, a neural tube defect (NTD). Research shows that Hispanic women in the U.S. are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than non-Hispanic women to deliver babies with NTDs. 

 

Pregnant women should keep a well-balanced diet and take multivitamins with folic acid, and this is especially vital for Latina mothers-to-be.  Each year, approximately 3,000 pregnancies are affected by Spina Bifida or another NTD; of these, nearly 900 are among Hispanics. 

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latinas have the least knowledge about folic acid and consume the least amount of this important nutrient. Hispanic women have to make a special effort to consume the doctor-recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid daily because many traditional Hispanic foods are made with imported corn flours. Imported corn flours – unlike other flour and cereal products – are not required by law to be enriched with folic acid.  

 

NCLR encourages Latinas who are pregnant or can become pregnant to take the following steps to help prevent serious birth defects like Spina Bifida:

 

·         Consult a nurse or doctor if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.

·         Take a daily multivitamin with folic acid before, during, and after pregnancy.

·         Check the nutrition labels on cereals for folic acid percentages.

·         Have a well-balanced diet with fruits and vegetables.

 

For more information on folic acid awareness, visit www.folicacidinfo.org.