This year, instead of candy and trinkets, why not stock your friends and family’s stockings with an impactful gift; folic acid.

Folic acid supports women’s reproductive health, helps the body make healthy new cells, and may help lower the risk of stroke.

The B-9 vitamin’s primary role is to reduce the risk of birth defects, specifically, neural tube defects (NTDs), which are serious birth defects of the brain and spine. The most common of those are spina bifida and anencephaly. Folic acid may also help lower the risk of some other birth defects, such as certain heart defects, though that research is less certain.

Neural tube defects affect an estimated 3,000 pregnancies in the United States each year, and about 1,251 babies are born with spina bifida each year.

For expectant mothers, getting 400 mcg a day of folic acid before and during early pregnancy can greatly reduce the risk of these defects.

It is advised that all women planning on becoming pregnant begin taking Folic Acid at least one month before conception. With about 50-percent of all pregnancies in the U.S. being unplanned, the best course of action is to add Folic Acid to your regimen once you reach childbearing age.

While helping to prevent NTDs is the primary job of folic acid, there are other benefits of getting enough of this B vitamin.

For teenage girls, folate helps the body make new cells, including healthy skin, hair, and nails, and building the folic acid habit early means they’re protected if they ever become pregnant.

For women 40 years and older, unplanned pregnancies can still happen, and getting enough folate may help lower the risk of stroke, especially for people with low folate levels.

Men need folate for their health, too. But a large NIH study found that folic acid and zinc supplements did not improve sperm counts or pregnancy rates, so the best gift for dad may be a folate-rich meal.

For you, it’s a great gift that won’t break the bank. Folic acid is available over the counter and is inexpensive.

This Christmas consider adding Folic Acid as a stocking stuffer.

Updated October 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your health care provider.

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