HARD COPIES INTERVIEW

birth defects prevention month EDUCATES MOMS ON WHAT IT TAKES TO DELIVER HEALTHY BABIES

March of Dimes President and a Registered Dietician Offer Tips, Insights

NEWS BACKGROUND: 

As National Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 24-30) coincides with Birth Defects Prevention Month, it’s the perfect time to educate consumers on the health benefits of folic acid.  The latest survey by the March of Dimes shows that 60% of childbearing-age women in the U.S. still do NOT take the B vitamin folic acid every day. 

Folic acid has been widely recognized as the nutrient responsible for a significant reduction in serious neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida, but it may also prevent oral and facial birth defects such as cleft palate as well as birth defects involving the heart and limbs. Folic acid also has been linked with reduced risks for heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia and pancreatic cancer in men and women, and can reduce the risk for breast and cervical cancers in women. 

Additionally, leading nutritional experts anticipate whole grain products will take on renewed importance as part of a healthy diet when the government announces revised U.S. Dietary Guidelines this month.  As more consumers switch from enriched white breads, which are required to be fortified with folic acid, to whole-grain breads, which are not, they may unintentionally consume reduced amounts of folic acid.  It’s an important gap to fill; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since the introduction of grain product fortification, rates of neural tube birth defects have decreased by 26 percent.

Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes and Dr. Frances Coletta, a registered dietician, are available to discuss the critical role folic acid plays in preventing birth defects, provide tips and advice for childbearing-age women, and offer tips for viewers on how to avoid “trading down” on their folic acid intake as a result of switching to whole grains.   

WHO:

• Jennifer Howse, Ph.D., President, March of Dimes:  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a national voluntary agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. 

• Frances Coletta, Ph.D., R.D.:  Frances Coletta is director of product nutrition at Sara Lee Bakery Group in St. Louis, Missouri.  She has overseen the company’s industry-leading efforts to fortify its whole-grain breads with folic acid.  Coletta has worked as a medical dietitian, family practice nutritionist and research dietitian, with special expertise in family mealtime. 

B-roll will be provided to stations participating in the SMT as a hot-roll. 

TO REQUEST A HARD COPY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Randi Appelbaum/DMS at 212-727-1802.