by Janet Murguía
Janet Murguía
Over the holidays, families gathered to share traditional meals, stories and laughter. Now that they are over, it is time to take a closer look at what is on the table.
Our New Year’s resolutions reflect what we know about the risks associated with obesity and diabetes, but there is another health concern that could be reduced simply by sharing more information throughout our community – Spina Bifida and Neural Tube Defects (NTDs).
Spina Bifida and NTDs affect Latinos at a higher than average rate and are among the most common permanently disabling birth defects in the United StatesNTDs result when the baby’s spine fails to close during early pregnancy.
One key way to reduce the risk of this happening is for women to make sure they get 400 micrograms daily of folic acid, which is a B-vitamin, before and during pregnancy. Taking folic acid before pregnancy lowers the risk of Spina Bifida and other serious birth defects up to 70 percent. Waiting until pregnancy before taking this essential vitamin, however, will not help prevent birth defects. Even women who are not planning to become pregnant should include 400 micrograms of folic acid in their daily diets.
“It’s so important for women to take a multivitamin with folic acid every day.Before my pregnancy I had heard of NTDs, but I knew absolutely nothing about them,” says Emily, a Latina mother of a six-year-old daughter living with Spina Bifida. “I will do whatever I can do to help prevent another birth affected by Spina Bifida.”She has spoken to Congress and others about the difficulties she and her little girl face in their everyday lives.
Scientists think that Latinas may face a higher risk of pregnancy affected by Spina Bifida or another birth defect partly because corn flour products such as tortillas are not fortified with folic acid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only requires food manufacturers to add folic acid to wheat flour products such as bread and cereal. Because Hispanics tend to eat a higher proportion of corn flour products, they are less likely to get sufficient folic acid in their diets.
At the National Council of La Raza we are working to address this problem.Last year, NCLR joined with the Spina Bifida Association, GRUMA, one of the world’s largest producers of corn flour and tortillas, and Wal-Mart Stores to launch an initiative to lower the risk of birth defects among families that consume corn products.As a result, GRUMA agreed to fortify its products with folic acid.
NCLR also belongs to the National Council on Folic Acid, and we work in partnership with other national organizations, associations, and state folic acid councils to reach more than 100 million people a year with information about folic acid’s benefits.
Despite these efforts, we need more people to help us spread the word.Each year, approximately 3,000 pregnancies are affected by Spina Bifida or another birth defect. Of these, about 850 are among Hispanics.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, among all racial and ethnic groups, Latinas consume the least amount of folic acid and have the least knowledge about folic acid. If Latino rates were reduced to the national average, 200 fewer Latino children would be born with NTDs each year.
It takes a community committed to healthy families to join with parents like Emily and organizations like NCLR as we recognize National Birth Defects Prevention Month. You can help add to the wisdom shared at family mealtime and in schools, churches and community centers. It is a small step to take for a healthy future for our children.
(For more information on Spina Bifida, NTDs, and folic acid, visit the Spina Bifida Association’s website at www.spinabifidaassociation.org or call 800-621-3141.) ©2008
