Key points
- Hispanic/Latina women are more likely to have a child born with a neural tube defect (NTD) than non-Hispanic White and Black women.
- Folic acid fortification of corn masa flour could help prevent NTDs.
- More work is needed to improve folic acid intake among Hispanic/Latina women.
Populations impacted
Research shows that some women in the United States do not get enough folic acid to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Hispanic/Latina women are more likely to have a child born with an NTD than non-Hispanic White and Black women.
Barriers to folic acid intake
Research shows Hispanic/Latina women face unique challenges in meeting folic acid recommendations. These include:
- Lower levels of folate: Compared with non-Hispanic White women, Hispanic/Latina women have lower levels of folate in their blood.
- More likely to have an MTHFR C677T gene variant: Hispanic/Latina women are more likely than non-Hispanic White and Black women to have the MTHFR C677T gene variant.
- Low level of awareness of folic acid benefits: Hispanic/Latina women have low levels of awareness of the benefits of folic acid.
- Lower folic acid intake: Hispanic/Latina women are less likely to get folic acid from fortified foods or take a multivitamin containing folic acid. Lower intake is more common among women who primarily speak Spanish, were born outside the United States, and have lived in the United States for a shorter period of time.
Overcoming barriers
To help more Hispanic/Latina women get the recommended daily value of folic acid, the US Food and Drug Administration allowed folic acid to be added voluntarily to corn masa flour. Corn masa flour is a staple in the diets of many Hispanic/Latina women.
The benefits of adding folic acid to corn masa flour include:
- Increased folic acid intake: Adding folic acid to corn masa flour can help increase the average amount of daily folic acid Hispanic/Latina women get.
- Prevention of NTDs: Fortifying corn masa flour with folic acid can contribute to the prevention of NTDs among Hispanic infants.
What CDC is doing
Data from 2011–2020 have shown that voluntary folic acid fortification of corn masa flour has not yet improved folate status among Hispanic/Latina women. It’s important to check food labels, as specific corn masa flours may or may not contain added folic acid.
CDC continues to monitor trends in folate levels, consumption, knowledge, and practices among women using different surveys and research methods. Our research aims to better understand and reduce risks for NTDs.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/folic-acid/health-equity/index.html
