Folic for Life

Find out why everyone, especially women, need to know more about folic acid.

We don’t know all the causes of spina bifida and anencephaly, but there are some ways to reduce your chances of an NTD-affected pregnancy. This section contains important information and an opportunity to join our campaign for the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid, an initiative proven to significantly reduce NTDs in more than 80 countries across the world.

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If you're sexually active, you need to take a folic acid supplement every day.

Vitabiotics Pregnacare

Pregnacare includes 400mcg folic acid, the exact level recommended by the UK Department of Health as soon as you start planning your pregnancy* until the end of the third month of being pregnant. Pregnacare provides expert nutritional care for before, during and after pregnancy. 

*Shine recommends taking a 400mcg folic acid supplement for at least eight weeks prior to conception.

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Why is this so important to Shine?

Shine is the UK's leading charity for people living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, with over 15,000 members living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  We're also one of the only organisations in the UK offering specialist support to parents affected by Anencephaly, a fatal condition where the brain and skull do not fully develop in the womb. Both conditions are potentially preventable, with folic acid supplementation clinically proven to reduce the chances of a Neural Tube Defect (such as Spina Bifida or Anencephaly) developing during pregnancy by up to 70%. 

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Folic for Life is kindly supported by Vitabiotics Pregnacare

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