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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Folic acid, a B vitamin, plays a vital role in |
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healthy pregnancies; and |
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WHEREAS, Consumption of folic acid, or folate, before |
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conception and during early pregnancy can prevent the occurrence of |
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some neural tube defects, including spina bifida, which leaves some |
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children unable to walk, and anencephaly, which causes early death; |
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each year, 2,500 babies are born with neural tube defects, and many |
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pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth due to inadequate |
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maternal folic acid levels; and |
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WHEREAS, Moreover, research suggests that consumption of |
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multivitamins containing folic acid may help prevent cleft palate, |
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congenital heart defects, prematurity, and low birth weight; and |
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WHEREAS, Folic acid is found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, |
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liver, yeast breads, fortified cereals, and enriched grain |
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products; the Spina Bifida Association, March of Dimes, and the |
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Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommend that |
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women who could become pregnant consume 400 micrograms of synthetic |
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folic acid every day from a vitamin or from fortified foods, in |
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addition to eating a healthy diet rich in natural sources of folate; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, If all women took folic acid before conception and |
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during early pregnancy, the number of neural tube defects could |
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drop as much as 70 percent; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby affirm the importance of folic acid in the diets |
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of women of childbearing age. |