FOLIC ACID

Women attempting to conceive should take daily folic acid supplementation for at least one to three months prior to conception.  Folic acid can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects and can be found over the counter in your local pharmacy. The dose recommended may vary depending on specific conditions or medical history in a given patient, but the minimum requirement is 400mcg (0.4mg) daily, and many physicians recommend taking 0.8-1mg per day for the average person. This is the amount found in most over the counter prenatal vitamins.