Study: Folic acid may prevent cleft lip and palate
A new study finds that women who take folic acid supplements early in their pregnancy can substantially reduce their baby's chances of being born with a facial cleft. Researchers at NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that 0.4 mg per day of folic acid reduced by one-third a baby's risk of isolated cleft lip (with or without cleft palate). Folic acid is a B vitamin found in leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, and whole grains. It can also be taken as a vitamin supplement, and it is added to flour and other fortified foods. The recommended daily dietary allowance for folate for adults is 400 mcg or 0.4 mg.
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