What are the preconception benefits of folic acid?

Preparing for a pregnancy entails the identification and modification of potential risks to the couple’s health through interventions and, more specifically, preventive means. Anemia and certain birth defects of the neural tube and spine can be prevalent in the first few weeks of pregnancy often before a woman finds out that she is pregnant. Folic acid, which is a supplement known to prevent these entities, should therefore be taken several months to a year prior to conception in order to reap its maximal benefit.