Folic acid:
Folic acid is the most important of all prenatal vitamins. If any woman is able to become pregnant, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends a daily supplement of folic acid at a dose of 0.4-0.8 mg per day to prevent the possibility of neural tube defects (44).
Cholesterol:
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), all women over 20 years old with risk factors for coronary artery disease should be evaluated for high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and other dyslipidemia. The USPSTF considers increased risk to be diabetes, personal history of coronary heart disease or non-coronary atherosclerosis including examples of abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery stenosis, family history of cardiovascular disease before age 50 in male relatives or age 60 in female relatives, tobacco use, hypertension, and obesity with a BMI ≥30. According to the USPSTF, a cholesterol profile should be checked every 5 years but with more frequent testing for those needing treatment or if close to needing treatment. (18)
