Folate is a B vitamin needed for healthy growing, in particular for the nervous system. Folate helps:
Vitamin D has many important roles in the body including helping with calcium absorption, cell growth and maintaining a healthy immune system to fight disease and illness. Find out about these important roles as well as vitamin D deficiency, how to test for vitamin D deficiency and where to get vitamin D.
Adequate intake of folate during pregnancy and breastfeeding is crucial, and requires a high quality diet. However, large surveys show women who are pregnant and breastfeeding often have a poor intake of folate through their diet.
Because folate is so important to developing babies, in September 2009 the Australian Government made it mandatory for all wheat bread (other than organic), to be fortified with folic acid, including breads unpackaged or without labels. This action is designed to help protect pregnant women from having babies with neural tube defects. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid and other foods such as fruit juice may also have folic acid added. All are required to state the fortification on labels or to have that information available in the case of an unlabeled product. Mandatory folic acid fortification has been used safely in the United States and Canada for over 10 years.
Folate supplements are another way of obtaining folate.
** Currently under review **
This web page is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health practitioner. The information above is based on current medical knowledge, evidence and practice as at February 2014.
