"Daily intake of folate and folic acid can help in many ways ”most notably in the reduction of neural tube birth defects like Spina Bifida," reflect Norma Ryan and Connie Motter, Co-Chairs of the National Council of Folic Acid. "The National Council on Folic Acid encourages every woman of childbearing age to take advantage of this valuable knowledge and tools such as the VitaTrack application to ensure she is receiving the necessary amounts of this vital nutrient."

Designed specifically for the iPhone, the VitaTrack Folate Tracker app will help women ensure that they are consuming the recommended amount of daily folic acid before becoming pregnant. Users can enter the food consumed each date by selecting from more than 8,000 diverse menu items and portion sizes to calculate their folic acid intake.

"This application is a great way for women who are considering pregnancy to assess whether or not they are getting an adequate level of folate in their diet," said Lee Kao, MD, PhD, a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and a Reproductive Endocrinology Infertility specialist in practice at Laurel Fertility Care in San Francisco. "In many cases, women will discover that they are far below their recommended intake and should consult their doctor about folic acid supplementation before becoming pregnant."

SOURCE VitaPath Genetics