Final answer:
The Food and Nutrition Board recommends that women of childbearing potential consume at least 400 µg/day of folate to prevent neural tube defects and other birth defects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that all women of childbearing potential consume at least 400 µg/day of folate from supplements or fortified foods. This recommendation is based on the importance of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in newborns. Folic acid plays a critical role in the healthy development of the neural tube, which forms the baby's brain and spinal cord. By ensuring adequate folic acid intake, the risk of these birth defects can be significantly reduced.