U.S. SURGEON GENERAL ROLLS OUT 2005 AGENDA:
THE YEAR OF THE HEALTHY CHILD

January 24, 2005

U.S. SURGEON GENERAL ROLLS OUT 2005 AGENDA: THE YEAR OF THE HEALTHY CHILD Begins year with folic acid recommendations for women of child bearing age including increased dosage for women at risk of Neural Tube Defects

U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona today marked Folic Acid Awareness week by rolling out his 2005 agenda and reminding all women of child-bearing age to consume the recommended amounts of folic acid each day.

"We know that the health needs of children, grow into the health problems of adulthood, so this year I will be taking a hard look at ways to improve the health of children both domestically and internationally," U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said. "By improving the holistic health of our children, we can ensure a healthier population for the next generation."

Dr. Carmona announced that The Year of the Healthy Child agenda will focus on improving the body, mind, and spirit of the growing child. A healthy child begins before birth, so the Office of the Surgeon General will highlight steps that women should take to keep themselves healthy, especially when they are considering becoming pregnant. This includes a healthful diet, exercise, and eliminating tobacco use and alcohol consumption.

It also includes taking folic acid as a vitamin supplement. Folic acid is a B-vitamin necessary for proper cell growth to ward off such birth defects as neural tube defects, serious birth defects of the brain
(anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida). Research has shown that, if taken before and during early pregnancy, folic acid can prevent 70 percent of these birth defects. Therefore, every woman of children bearing age, even if she is not planning on becoming pregnant, should supplement her diet with 400 micrograms of folic acid each day.

However, women whose family history shows a high risk of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) should take 10 times that amount: 4 milligrams. It is important, however, that this increased dosage be taken specifically from folic acid supplements, not by increasing the number of multivitamins a
woman takes, because of the risk of vitamin A poisoning. Dr. Carmona
urged all women of child bearing age to talk with their physician or other health care professional about steps they can take to keep themselves healthy.

"Last year we started talking about the importance of charting a person's family health tree; and this latest recommendation to increase folic acid intake for those at risk of Neural Tube Defects is one sound reason for knowing your family's health history," Dr. Carmona said. "We are working to bring the best scientific information to the American people. It still takes too long to get good health information from the science lab to the medicine cabinet. The good science that is being discovered isn't any good until it gets to the people who need it. We're working to bridge that gap."

In addition to pre-pregnancy, the Office of the Surgeon General will also focus attention on pre-natal care and childbirth and early childhood development, as part of his 2005 agenda. As a child grows, so does the child's health needs, so the Office of the Surgeon General will address, among other things, immunizations, childhood obesity, physical activity, illness and injury prevention, healthy indoor environment, child abuse prevention, drug and alcohol use prevention, and safe teen driving.

Building on Dr. Carmona's "50 Schools in 50 States Initiative," the Office of the Surgeon General will continue to work with partners and school districts, to reach into classrooms across the country to encourage students to stay in school. In addition, the Office of the Surgeon General will encourage more students, especially minorities, to focus on excelling in math and in the hard sciences. The Office of the Surgeon General also will join with others to promote the mental health of children and adolescents.

And finally, the enthusiasm of children and teens is often overlooked within their communities. The Office of the Surgeon General will work to harness their energy and partner them with local institutions to promote volunteerism, civic responsibility, and patriotism.