Medical professionals across the spectrum agree: all women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin containing (folic acid) or naturally occurring folate. It's also important to know that the FDA has recently changed the way it measures folate as it naturally occurs in foods, and folic acid, the synthetic form of folate. Whether or not you are planning a pregnancy, on the off chance you may become pregnant, folate will help prevent neural tube birth defects. In addition to a need for folate, premenopausal women lose iron during menstruation, so experts advise that women in this age group take a multivitamin that also contains iron. Recommended: RDA for folate in the form of folic acid (400 mcg) and iron (18 mg). 600 IU of vitamin D and 60 mcg of B12.
