Approximately 1,300 babies will be diagnosed with a birth defect this year in Arkansas. This is close to the national average, but the death rate from birth defects in Arkansas is above average.

Each year, more than 100 babies will die because of birth defects in Arkansas. According to data from the March of Dimes, between 2010-2013, the infant mortality rate due to neural tube defects (NTDs) was 11.2 per 10,000 births. This rate is 2.3 higher than the national average during the same time span.

There are many causes of birth defects, and unfortunately, the cause is hard to determine most of the time. Fortunately, there are things you can do to lower the risk of some birth defects.

The risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida, anencephaly, cleft lip and cleft palate, and congenital heart disease can be lowered by taking folic acid before and during pregnancy.

The CDC recommends for women trying to get pregnant to take 400mcg of folic acid per day for the purpose of reducing NTDs. You should begin taking the supplement at least one month before getting pregnant to gain the full effect of the B-9 vitamin. Due to the fact that 70% of all pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unplanned, we suggest all women of childbearing age begin taking folic acid now.

Do your part to help reduce the rate of birth defects in Arkansas by adding folic acid to your daily regimen. For more tips on lowering the risk of birth defects, visit the CDC’s website.

The post Folic Acid Awareness in Arkansas appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that women who take folic acid supplements during their childbearing years are at a reduced risk of hypertension.

Researchers learned that women with hypertension (high blood pressure) who took folate were able to significantly reduce their blood pressure. By taking more than 1,000 mcg a day of folic acid there was a 46% reduction in high blood pressure of women who participated in the study.

It is strongly advised that women of childbearing age take a folic acid supplement (400 micrograms per day) as it offers a variety of benefits, most importantly a greatly reduced risk of the development of neural tube defects in children in the womb.

All women are advised to ask their doctor before starting a daily regimen of folic acid, and certainly before increasing their daily intake above 400 mcg.

(source: https://newswire.net/newsroom/pr/00142890-recent-study-now-suggests-folate-may-prevent-hypertension-in-women.html)

The post Folic Acid May Prevent Hypertension in Women appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

We’ve put together a list of resources from national and Arkansas specific non-profits.

The Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center — based out of Little Rock — is a non-profit organization that provides all services free of charge. Services include pregnancy testing, STI testing, online parenting classes, options consultation, and more.

There are other pregnancy resource centers across the state. You can find the one closest to you here.

The Arkansas Department of Health offers links to a variety of family planning resources for teens and young adults. They also have a maternity program with a long list of valuable resources.

The March of Dimes is a non-profit organization that fights for healthy mothers and babies. The nationwide group offers local resources, including in Arkansas. You can find those at https://www.marchofdimes.org/local/in-your-area.aspx or at their local office in Gainesville, AR at 352-378-9522.

BirthMother Assistance offers a long list of Arkansas specific resources for expectant mothers, those looking to become pregnant, and those looking into adoption.

We offer a variety of information and tips on our website, including in our Tips section. We also have additional resources available on our helpful links page.

Of course, if you have any questions about folic acid, neural tube defects, or anything else pregnancy related, please feel free to contact us!

The post Pregnancy Resources for Arkansas Women & Mothers appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

While that is folic acid’s most important job, it has a number of other benefits for people of all ages, including when it comes to mental health.

Multiple studies have shown that low blood folate levels are associated with poor brain function, an increased risk of dementia, and an increased risk of mental impairment in older adults.

In turn, taking folic acid has been found to potentially improve brain function in those with mental impairments as well as help to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

A 2019 study, involving 180 adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), showed that taking 400 mcg of folic acid per day for two years significantly improved measures of brain function, including verbal IQ and reduced blood levels of certain proteins involved in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, compared with a control group.

Another study from 2016 involved 121 people recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who were being treated with the medication donepezil. Researchers found that those who took 1,250 mcg of folic acid per day* for six months had improved cognition and reduced markers of inflammation, compared with those who took donepezil alone.

Folic acid supplements have also been found to help people suffering from mental health disorders, including depression.

One study from 2017 found that folic acid and folate supplements may reduce depressive symptoms when used in conjunction with antidepressant medications.

A systematic review demonstrated that folic acid and methylfolate, when used alongside antidepressant medication, were associated with significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms, compared with antidepressant medication treatment alone.

There is also a review of seven studies that found that treatment with folic acid supplements alongside antipsychotic medication resulted in reduced negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia, compared with antipsychotic medication alone.

*Before taking folic acid, especially at an amount of 1,250 mcg of folic acid per day, you should always consult with your physician.

The post Folic Acid for the Mind appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

One of those is the promotion of healthy hair and the potential daily of greying and hair loss as we age.

The primary job of folic acid is to help the body make healthy red blood cells and to keep them healthy. Those red blood cells are involved in the creation of and health of your skin tissue, nails, and hair.

Multiple studies, including one published in 2017, found a link between folic acid deficiency and premature greying.

Because folic acid helps with the synthesis of DNA nucleotides and amino acids, studies — including this one published in 1993 — have shown it can also help to add volume and shine to your hair.

While there isn’t enough information to guarantee that taking folic acid every day will lead to an increase in hair growth, what we can say is that not taking folic acid can lead to increased hair loss and premature greying.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all women of child-bearing age take 400 mcg of folic acid a day beginning at least one month before conception and throughout the pregnancy.

Preventing NTDs and supporting healthy hair growth aren’t the only benefits of folic acid. Visit the age group sections of our site — including 20-39 and 40+ for more information.

The post Folic Acid for your Hair appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

This year, bring a dish loaded with nutrients, especially folic acid! The B vitamin is vital in the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs) for children, but it can also provide benefits all through life!

Don’t just cook up something delicious for guests, this year, make it something chock-full of folic acid, too!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Garlic

This is a healthy and delicious side dish option courtesy of Gay Riley at NetNutritionist. Green vegetables, including asparagus, kale, broccoli, and of course Brussels sprouts, are loaded with folate, the natural form of folic acid.

Prep time: 10 min.
Cook time: 20 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Brussels Sprouts, fresh and organic when possible
• 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil
• 30 Garlic Cloves, peeled and whole
• 4 cups Kale, organic
• 20 halves Walnuts, fresh, raw if possible
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While it’s warming up, thoroughly wash and dry Brussels sprouts and kale. Cut off the tops of Brussels sprouts and kale stems. Tear kale into 2-inch pieces.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While it’s warming up, thoroughly wash and dry Brussels sprouts and kale. Cut off the tops of Brussels sprouts and kale stems. Tear kale into 2-inch pieces.

Place Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet and toss with garlic and olive oil, then stick in the oven for 15 minutes.

Add the kale and walnuts then bake for another 5 minutes until the nuts are slightly brown and the kale is crispy.

Remove from the oven and squeeze a fresh small orange or sweet lemon on top. Plate and serve!

Orange and Thyme Roasted Carrots and Beetroot

Beets are loaded with folate, so why not pair them together with some delicious and healthy carrots in this recipe from delicious.com.

Prep time: 20 min.
Cook time: 35 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch carrots, trimmed
• 500g mixed baby beetroot, scrubbed, trimmed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Juice of 1 orange
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• ½ bunch thyme

While the oven is preheating to 375 degrees, bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil, then boil the carrots for 5 minutes or until just tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool.

Add the beetroot to the saucepan and boil for 10-12 minutes until just tender, then remove and allow to cool. Once they’ve cooled, peel the beetroots, then place in a roasting pan with the carrots.

Drizzle with the olive oil, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, and honey, then toss well to combine. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then scatter with thyme sprigs. Bake for 20 minutes, turning once, until tender.

Banana Pancakes

If you’re hosting family overnight, or just looking for a new Christmas morning breakfast tradition, how about this recipe from NDTV Food. Bananas are a great source of folate so why not bake them into a delicious pancake breakfast?

Prep time: 10 min.
Cook time: 25 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 tsp white sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 banana, mashed
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp butter

Whisk eggs in a bowl and add butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Add the mashed banana to the bowl and continue to mix.

Sift flour and baking powder into the mixture and mix all the lumps out. Then add the milk while continuing to whisk until a smooth paste.

Pour or scoop the batter onto a hot pan or griddle and cook pancakes until golden brown on both sides.

Serve with your favorite topping, though we suggest sliced bananas and powdered sugar.

The post Folic acid-filled recipes for the holidays appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

But what about after the baby is born?

It is recommended that women continue taking their 400 mcg of folic acid during postpartum, and breastfeeding moms should take 500 mcg daily. Moms who are breastfeeding lose some of their nutrients, thus the slight increase in their recommended daily amount.

Your body has just gone through a major transformation, and it is now trying to heal and return to its pre-baby state. Anytime healing is involved, that means new cells; and new cells, mean folic acid. The B9 vitamin aids in new cell growth, thus promoting the healing of a new mom.

Breastfeeding moms shouldn’t be concerned about their babies and folic acid. The folic acid that passes through mom’s breastmilk to the baby is a good thing! These sweet little ones are busy growing, and folic acid helps to provide their bodies with plenty of the building blocks they need for healthy development.

Formula-fed babies are reaping the benefits of folic acid, too. Most major brands of formula are fortified with folic acid; just check the label!

#NBM20

The post Folic Acid Through Postpartum appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

Toss any of these ingredients together to find your perfect smoothie of choice.

Fruits & Veggies
Mango
Broccoli
Beets
Orange
Avocado
Cantaloupe
Papaya
Berries
Split red lentils
Banana
Leafy Greens
Romaine lettuce
Collard greens
Spinach
Kale
Dandelion greens

These combinations are sure to keep you cool while increasing your folate intake. Add water, juice, nut butter, honey, or yogurt to taste.

• One mango, one cup of mixed berries, and two cups of fresh spinach

• One banana, one orange, and two cups of collard greens

• One banana, one cup of broccoli florets, and a quarter of a medium cantaloupe

• One cup spinach, one cup romaine, ½ cup of avocado, ½ cup papaya, and one cup mixed berries

• Two cups mixed berries, one cup split red lentils (rinsed and trained), and 1 cup vanilla yogurt

Sources:

https://pregnancytoparenting.ca/2018/07/26/folate-rich-recipe-berry-lentil-smoothie/

https://www.thedailymeal.com/recipes/folate-rich-smoothie-recipe

https://davyandtracy.com/green-smoothies/green-smoothies-for-pregnancy-folic-acid-folate/

The post Fresh & Fruity: Folic Acid Smoothies appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

Now, a new study suggests that taking folic acid through the second and third trimester of the pregnancy can also help with the child’s cognitive function as they age.

According to researchers from Ulster University in Northern Ireland, University College Dublin, and Trinity University in the Republic of Ireland, children of mothers who took folic acid throughout the entire pregnancy scored significantly higher on cognitive tests at ages 3 and 7, compared to mothers who took a placebo.

Researchers studied the results of 119 mother-child pairing, including 70 children at age seven, and 39 children at age three.

The children at age seven whose mothers had taken the daily recommended amount of folic acid (400 mcg) had significantly higher scores in word reasoning compared to the children whose mothers took the placebo.

The children at age three also tested higher for cognition than those of mothers who took the placebo.

Both age groups also had higher than average scores on both the Bayley’s Scale of Infant and Toddler Development (BSITD-III) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III).

Source: BMC Medicine. Volume 17, Article 196.

“Effect of continued folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child: a follow-up study from a randomized controlled trial (FASSTT Offspring Trial)”

The post Cognitive Benefits of Folic Acid appeared first on Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition.

Dr. Wills was born in 1888 to a family with science in their blood. She attended Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Newnham College in Cambridge, and the London School of Medicine for Women, becoming legally qualified to practice medicine in May of 1920.

Rather than practice medicine, Lucy decided to become a medical researcher and teacher, specifically spending her time researching pregnancy. In 1928, she began researching a condition called macrocytic anemia, in which red blood cells are larger than normal.

During her research, Dr. Wills discovered poor pregnant women in Bombay were experiencing a different type of anemia. While vitamin B-12 had been used as a treatment for anemia in the past, it wasn’t working on these pregnant women. She concluded that there must have been another nutritional deficiency these women were experiencing rather than a pure vitamin B-12 deficiency. This unknown nutritional factor was referred to as the “Wills Factor.”

In an effort to alleviate macrocytic anemia in this women, Dr. Wills conducted clinical trials. She found this type of anemia could be both prevented and cured by yeast extracts.

In the 1940s, the “Wills Factor” was officially identified as folate.

We are so thankful for Dr. Wills and all women who help provide babies with the best start possible.

#womenshistorymonth

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