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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Preventive Medication

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: August 2023

Workgroups: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Workgroup

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all women who are able or planning to get pregnant take a folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Specifically, USPSTF recommends that all women who could get pregnant take a daily folic acid supplement of 0.4 to 0.8 mg (or 400 to 800 µg).

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Objectives related to this resource (1)

Increase the proportion of women of childbearing age who get enough folic acid — MICH‑12
Little or no detectable change

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2023). Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Preventive Medication. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/folic-acid-for-the-prevention-of-neural-tube-defects-preventive-medication