If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before becoming pregnant, she may be able to avoid significant birth malformations in her baby’s brain and spine. These birth disorders are known as neural tube defects (NTDs). To help prevent NTDs, women should take folic acid every day, beginning before they get pregnant.
There’s also evidence that consuming folic acid can help
- Prevent stroke.
- Prevent heart disease.
- Lower the risk of arsenic poisoning.
Folic acid may also help with fertility. Women who take folic acid-containing multivitamins are more likely to ovulate (produce eggs).