Latino Babies At Greater Risk For Birth Defects

Latino babies are much more likely than white babies to be born with neural tube defects, those are birth defects that affect the brain and spine. A lack of folic acid, a Vitamin B nutrient, is one way to prevent these defects, which is one reason why January 2-8, 2011 is National Folic Acid Awareness Week.

Latina women have the lowest consumption of folic acid of any other group in the U.S., which may play a part in the fact that Latino babies are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than white babies to be born with a neural tube defect. For more information go here or visit the Centers for Disease Control.