Among the health benefits of folic acid is that it can help prevent birth defects in a growing fetus. But pregnant women aren’t the only people who should take it.

The Womenshealth.gov website says these people may benefit from folic acid:

• Women who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant, or breast-feeding mothers.
• Women who have given birth to a baby with spina bifida who want to get pregnant again.
• Women who have a family member with spina bifida.
• Women who have spina bifida and want to become pregnant.
• People taking medication to manage chronic disease, such as epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis.
• People who are on dialysis.
• People who have sickle cell anemia, celiac disease or liver disease.
• People who frequently consume more than one alcoholic drink daily.