UV Exposure Reduces Folate Levels In Pregnant Women

Expectant mothers, and women who are trying to get pregnant, who are exposed to ultraviolet radiation may lose some of the health benefits of folate intake. An Australian study of 45 young healthy women aged 18 to 47 showed that high rates of sun exposure accounted for up to a 20 percent drop in folate levels. Folic acid is a B vitamin, and folate is found in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, legumes, etc. Folate has been found to reduce miscarriage and neural tube defects such as spina bifida in unborn babies. The women in the study who were most at risk were those outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with little sun protection.