Knowledge and use of folic acid among women of reproductive age--Michigan, 1998

Neural tube defects (NTDs), which include spina bifida and anencephaly, are serious malformations that occur in the developing fetus during the first 17-30 days after conception. Consumption of supplements containing folic acid can reduce NTDs 50%-70%. In the United States, approximately 4000 pregnancies are affected by NTDs each year, including approximately 140 infants in Michigan. In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age consume at least 400 microg of folic acid daily. In 1998, the Institute of Medicine reaffirmed that recommendation and added that women capable of becoming pregnant take 400 microg of synthetic folic acid daily from fortified foods and/or supplements and consume a balanced, healthy diet of folate-rich foods. This report summarizes findings from the 1998 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) about multivitamin use and folic acid knowledge among women of reproductive age in Michigan. The findings suggest that public health campaigns that promote the consumption of folic acid should target women who are young, unmarried, obese, smoke, eat few fruits and vegetables, and have a low level of education.     

Use of vitamins containing folic acid among women of childbearing age--United States, 2004

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects of the spine (spina bifida) and brain (anencephaly), affecting approximately 3,000 pregnancies each year in the United States. Periconceptional consumption of the B vitamin folic acid reduces the occurrence of NTDs by 50%-70%. To prevent these defects, the U.S. Public Health Service (1992) and Institute of Medicine (1998) issued separate recommendations that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 micro g of folic acid daily, and the Food and Drug Administration mandated fortification of cereal grain products with folic acid to increase women's daily intake. Fortification of the U.S. food supply with folic acid has resulted in a 26% reduction in NTDs. However, even with fortification, not all women receive adequate levels of folic acid from their diets. Therefore, increasing the use of vitamins containing folic acid remains an important component of NTD prevention. To monitor the use of vitamins containing folic acid among women of childbearing age, the Gallup Organization has conducted a series of surveys for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation since 1995. This report presents results from the 2004 survey, which indicated that although no substantial increase in the proportion of women who use vitamins containing folic acid daily occurred during 1995-2003, a substantial increase was observed in 2004, with 40% of women aged 18-45 years reporting daily consumption of a vitamin containing folic acid. This report also presents information about women's dieting behaviors. Regardless of dieting status, public health programs should stress the importance of women in their childbearing years consuming 400 micro g of folic acid daily through supplements, fortified foods, and a diet containing folate-rich foods.     

Achieving a public health recommendation for preventing neural tube defects with folic acid.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined 3 approaches to achieving the public health recommendation that all women of child-bearing age ingest 0.40 mg of folic acid per day to reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs). METHODS: A total of 1136 mothers of infants with major malformations from the Boston and Philadelphia areas, whose pregnancies began from 1993 to 1995, were interviewed within 6 months of delivery about vitamin supplementation, dietary intakes, and other factors. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of the 1136 women in the study did not take folic acid--containing supplements daily before conception, but the proportion decreased over the years of the study. Women not taking supplements consumed an average of 0.25 mg of naturally occurring folates daily. On the basis of dietary intakes reported by women not taking folic acid supplements, a simulation of cereal grain fortification with folic acid at the level required by the US Food and Drug Administration showed that an average of only 0.13 mg of folic acid would be ingested daily. CONCLUSIONS: With consumption of folic acid only through dietary intake, sizeable portions of the childbearing population would receive less than the level of folic acid recommended for preventing NTDs. Even with food fortification, women of childbearing age should be advised to take folic acid--containing supplements on a daily basis.     

Spina bifida and anencephaly before and after folic acid mandate--United States, 1995-1996 and 1999-2000

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects of the spine (e.g., spina bifida) and the brain (e.g., anencephaly) that occur during early pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant; 50%-70% of these defects can be prevented if a woman consumes sufficient folic acid daily before conception and throughout the first trimester of her pregnancy. In 1992, to reduce the number of cases of spina bifida and other NTDs, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microg of folic acid daily. Three approaches to increase folic acid consumption were cited: 1) improve dietary habits, 2) fortify foods with folic acid, and 3) use dietary supplements containing folic acid. Mandatory fortification of cereal grain products went into effect in January 1998; during October 1998-December 1999, the reported prevalence of spina bifida declined 31%, and the prevalence of anencephaly declined 16%. Other studies have indicated similar trends. To update the estimated numbers of NTD-affected pregnancies and births, CDC recently analyzed data from 23 population-based surveillance systems that include prenatal ascertainment of these birth defects. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that the estimated number of NTD-affected pregnancies in the United States declined from 4,000 in 1995-1996 to 3,000 in 1999-2000. This decline in NTD-affected pregnancies highlights the partial success of the U.S. folic acid fortification program as a public health strategy. To reduce further the number of NTD-affected pregnancies, all women capable of becoming pregnant should follow the USPHS recommendation and consume 400 microg of folic acid every day.     

Use of supplements containing folic acid among women of childbearing age--United States, 2007

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects of the brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida) that affect approximately 3,000 pregnancies each year in the United States. In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age in the United States capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microg of folic acid daily to reduce their risk for having a pregnancy affected by NTDs. To assess awareness, knowledge, and behavior related to folic acid among women of childbearing age (aged 18-45 years), CDC analyzed the results of a national survey conducted annually by the Gallup Organization during the period 2003-2007. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, among all women of childbearing age, those aged 18-24 years had the least awareness regarding folic acid consumption (61%), the least knowledge regarding when folic acid should be taken (6%), and the lowest reported daily use of supplements containing folic acid (30%). Because women in this age group account for nearly one third of all births in the United States, promotion of folic acid consumption should be targeted to this population.     

Trends in folic acid supplement intake among women of reproductive age--California, 2002-2006

Daily intake of 400 microg of folic acid before conception can reduce by approximately 80% the risk for having an infant with a neural tube defect (NTD) such as spina bifida or anencephaly. Although other risk factors for NTDs exist, such as diabetes, obesity, and family history of NTDs, prevention measures have focused predominantly on promoting folic acid consumption. Women can ensure they are consuming the recommended amount of folic acid by eating one serving of breakfast cereal fortified with 100% of the recommended daily value of folic acid or by taking a supplement with 400 microg folic acid daily. Annual surveys conducted for the March of Dimes (MOD) Birth Defects Foundation indicate that 40% of all U.S. women of reproductive age (i.e., aged 15-45 years) took supplements containing folic acid in 2007 (MOD, unpublished data, 2007), up from 28% in 1995. To analyze trends in folic acid-containing supplement intake among California women aged 18-44 years during 2002-2006, the California Department of Public Health conducted trend analyses of data from the California Women's Health Survey (CWHS). This report summarizes the results of those analyses, which indicated that although the overall prevalence of intake of folic acid-containing supplements remained stable from 2002 (40%) to 2006 (41%) in California, use of such supplements decreased among Hispanic women and women with less education. Downward trends among Hispanic women are of particular concern because 1) Hispanic women are at increased risk for having a fetus or an infant with an NTD compared with women of other races/ethnicities, 2) the number of births to Hispanics in California increased during 1993-2003, and 3) Hispanics accounted for nearly 52% of all births in California in 2005 (California Department of Public Health, unpublished data, 2005). Development of additional targeted and evidence-based public health interventions for increasing folic acid intake among these populations is needed.     

Race-ethnicity differences in folic acid intake in women of childbearing age in the United States after folic acid fortification: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2002

BACKGROUND: Neural tube defects are serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Up to 70% of neural tube defects can be prevented by the consumption of folic acid by women before and early during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine folic acid intake in women of childbearing age in the United States. DESIGN: We analyzed nutrient intake data reported by 1685 nonpregnant women aged 15-49 y who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 2001-2002. RESULTS: The adjusted geometric mean consumption of folic acid from fortified foods was 128 microg/d (95% CI: 123, 134 microg/d) in nonpregnant women. Eight percent (95% CI: 5.8%, 11.0%) of nonpregnant women reported consuming >or=400 microg folic acid/d from fortified foods. This proportion was lower among non-Hispanic black women (5.0%) than among non-Hispanic white (8.9%) or Hispanic (6.8%) women. A smaller percentage of non-Hispanic black (19.1%) and Hispanic (21%) women than of non-Hispanic white women (40.5%) consumed >or=400 microg folic acid from supplements, fortified foods, or both, in addition to food folate, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine to reduce the frequency of neural tube defects. CONCLUSIONS: Most nonpregnant women of childbearing age in the United States reported consuming less than the recommended amount of folic acid. The proportion with low daily folic acid intake was significantly higher in non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women than in non-Hispanic white women. At the present level of folic acid fortification, most women need to take a folic acid-containing dietary supplement to achieve the Institute of Medicine recommendation.     

Neural tube defects among Mexican Americans living on the US-Mexico border: effects of folic acid and dietary folate

Populations of Mexican descent have high occurrences of neural tube defects (NTDs). A recent study suggested that folic acid supplements may not protect these populations from NTDs. In a case-control study, the authors investigated the role of folic acid and dietary folate intake in NTD risk among Mexican Americans living along the Texas-Mexico border. From January 1995 to February 1999, 148 Mexican-American women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 158 women with normal live births were interviewed in person about use of vitamin supplements and dietary intakes during a 6-month periconceptional period (from 3 months before conception to 3 months after conception). Daily preconceptional consumption of vitamin supplements containing folic acid was 2.5% in control women and 2.0% in case women (odds ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19, 3.22). With adjustment for maternal age, education, obesity, and previous stillbirth or miscarriage, the risk estimate was essentially null (odds ratio = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.22, 5.78). Combined folic acid intake from diet and supplements showed only a modest risk reduction for intakes of > or = 1.0 mg per day (adjusted odds ratio = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.72). The fact that the primary folic acid exposure was in the form of dietary polyglutamates rather than the more easily absorbed supplemental monoglutamates may explain an apparent decreased effect in this population.     

Prevalence of neural tube defects and folic acid knowledge and consumption--Puerto Rico, 1996-2006

Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant mortality in both the mainland United States and Puerto Rico. Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects of the spine and brain; two of the most common NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly. In the United States, NTD prevalence is higher among Hispanic women than among non-Hispanic white or non-Hispanic black women. In Puerto Rico, where most residents are Hispanic, the prevalence of NTDs (8.68 per 10,000 live births) is higher than in the mainland United States (5.59). Consumption of folic acid before and during early pregnancy can prevent NTDs. To assess trends in NTD prevalence and prevalence of knowledge and consumption of folic acid supplements in Puerto Rico, data were analyzed from the Birth Defects Surveillance System (BDSS) for 1996-2005 and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1997-2006. This report describes the results of those analyses, which indicated that prevalence of folic acid knowledge and consumption among women of childbearing age increased from 1997 to 2003 but decreased from 2003 to 2006. During similar periods, NTD prevalence declined from 1996 to 2003 but did not change significantly from 2003 to 2005. To resume the decline in prevalence of NTDs, additional measures might be needed to increase folic acid supplement use among Puerto Rican women of childbearing age.     

Pregnancy planning: a determinant of folic acid supplements use for the primary prevention of neural tube defects

OBJECTIVE: Daily consumption of supplements containing 400 micrograms of folic acid in the periconception period may reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) by as much as 70%. However, despite explicit recommendations, folic acid consumption among women likely to become pregnant remains low. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate women's knowledge and beliefs with regard to folic acid; to estimate the frequency of vitamin supplement consumption; and to identify its determinants during the periconception period. METHODS: In 1999-2000, a questionnaire was completed by 1,240 pregnant women in 10 Quebec hospitals. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the respondents were aware of the preventive role of folic acid but only 25% had taken the recommended dose of supplements during the periconception period. Supplement consumption is associated with the pregnancy planning intensity score (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.11), knowledge score (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07-1.16) and belief in the usefulness of supplements (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.02-2.39). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that further efforts are needed to inform the population and promote the optimal use of folic acid supplements.     

Folate status in women of childbearing age,by race/ethnicity--United States, 1999-2000

In September 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) recommended that women of childbearing age (i.e., aged 15-44 years) who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 400 microg of the B-vitamin folic acid to reduce the number of cases of spina bifida and anencephaly (neural tube defects [NTDs]). Since then, an ongoing national effort has encouraged women to consume dietary supplements containing folic acid. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the fortification of enriched cereal grain products with folic acid, and manufacturers have voluntarily added more folic acid to many ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (CDC, unpublished data, 2002). To assess temporal changes in serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations among childbearing-aged women, CDC compared folate concentrations for childbearing-aged women who participated during 1988-1994 and 1999-2000 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This report outlines the results of this comparison and describes serum and RBC folate levels by race/ethnicity. The results indicate that over the period studied, the median serum folate concentration for women aged 15-44 years increased approximately threefold, and the median RBC folate concentration increased approximately twofold. These findings indicate that the national health objective for 2010 to increase the median RBC folate level among women of childbearing age to 220 ng/mL RBC (objective 16.16b) has been met for Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white women but not for non-Hispanic black women. To reduce the number of pregnancies affected by NTDs further, all women of childbearing age capable of becoming pregnant should consume the PHS-recommended level of folic acid daily.     

Folic acid awareness and supplementation among Texas women of childbearing age

OBJECTIVE: Neural tube defects (NTDs) affect about seven of every 10,000 deliveries in Texas. To reduce the risk for NTDs, women are encouraged to supplement with 400 mcg folic acid daily during their reproductive years. This study examines folic acid awareness, knowledge, and supplementation practices among women of childbearing age (WCBA), including residents of Texas-Mexico border as well as women of Hispanic origin/ethnicity, populations that have NTD rates up to three times higher than the national average. METHODS: We conducted a statewide multistage sample telephone survey among Texas women of childbearing age in 2001. In total 1,196 women age 18 to 44 were interviewed. RESULTS: About 78% of WCBA knew about folic acid, 28% knew that folic acid prevents birth defects, and 25% knew to take folic acid before pregnancy. The prevalence of daily folic acid supplementation among all women of childbearing age was 33%. Education was the strongest predictor of folic acid awareness followed by race/ethnicity and age. Significant predictors of daily folic acid supplementation were education and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the need for more emphases on strategies to improve the level of folic acid supplementation among low educated women, and race ethnic minority populations.     

Strategies to increase folate/folic acid intake in women: an overview

Summary   Supplementation with folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and may also be associated with other health benefits in relation to cancer and vascular disease. There is strong support around the world for public health policies that encourage increased folic acid intake by women of childbearing age, especially daily intake of supplemental folic acid, to reduce the incidence of NTDs. Campaigns promoting the use of folic acid supplements are useful but many women remain unaware and many pregnancies are unplanned. They have therefore had a limited impact in the primary target group, namely women around the time of conception and in the early weeks of pregnancy. Studies suggest that only about 30% of women aged 18–45 years use folic acid periconceptionally, and among younger, less educated and poorer women, use is even less. It is estimated that the majority of women who take folic acid don't start until they know they are pregnant, and so miss the critical window (first 12 weeks) for the prevention of NTDs. It is therefore important that routes other than supplementation are considered. A European Union-funded programme of work, 'Folate: from food to functionality and optimal health' (FolateFuncHealth, QLRT1-1999-00576 & QLRT-2001-2740), has contributed to this work and the findings were presented at a conference in Warsaw in 2004.     

叶酸预防神经管畸形在相关人群中的知晓率及行为

目的 了解妇幼卫生人员、婚检妇女和孕妇对孕前和孕早期服用叶酸预防神经管畸形的知识掌握程度及相关行为。 方法 根据不同的对象自行设计知识和行为调查问卷,由妇幼卫生人员、婚检妇女和孕妇自己填写,将结果进行x2检验和方差分析。 结果 76.7%(155/202)的妇幼卫生人员知道服用叶酸可以减少神经管畸形的发生,26.7%(54/202)的知道叶酸应当从孕前开始服用,仅有5.9%(12/202)的人知道叶酸每天摄入的适当量是0.4 mg-1 mg,34.7%(70/202)的妇幼卫生人员推荐的剂量大于1 mg;194名婚检妇女仅4人(2.1%)知道叶酸可以预防胎儿畸形,4人在服用叶酸增补剂,2人知道要从孕前服用;31.9%(67/210)的孕妇知道叶酸与神经管畸形的关系,16.2%(34/210)知道应从孕前服用,14.3%(30/210)孕妇在服用叶酸增补剂,仅4人(1.9%)真正从孕前开始服用。 结论 妇女增补叶酸预防神经管畸形的知识还没有得到很好的普及,叶酸的服用率低。建议培训妇幼人员(特别是县乡级人员)正确指导妇女应用叶酸的知识和能力,加大婚前教育宣传力度,增加服用叶酸预防神经管畸形知识的知晓率。     

Trends in Folic Acid Awareness and Behavior in the United States: The Gallup Organization for the March of Dimes Foundation Surveys, 1995–2005

Objective: To summarize changes in folic acid awareness, knowledge, and behavior among women of childbearing age in the United States since the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) 1992 folic acid recommendation and later fortification. Methods: Random-digit dialed telephone surveys were conducted of approximately 2000 women (per survey year) aged 18–45 years from 1995–2005 in the United States. Results: The percentage of women reporting having heard or read about folic acid steadily increased from 52% in 1995 to 84% in 2005. Of all women surveyed in 2005, 19% knew folic acid prevented birth defects, an increase from 4% in 1995. The proportion of women who reported learning about folic acid from health care providers increased from 13% in 1995 to 26% in 2005. The proportion of all women who reported taking a vitamin supplement containing folic acid increased slightly from 28% in 1995 to 33% in 2005. Among women who were not pregnant at the time of the survey in 2005, 31% reported taking a vitamin containing folic acid daily compared with 25% in 1995. Conclusions: The percentage of women taking folic acid daily has increased modestly since 1995. Despite this increase, the data show that the majority of women of childbearing age still do not take a vitamin containing folic acid daily. Health care providers and maternal child health professionals must continue to promote preconceptional health among all women of childbearing age, and encourage them to take a vitamin containing folic acid daily.

     

Folic acid fortified milk increases blood folate and lowers homocysteine concentration in women of childbearing age

Daily consumption of 400 microg folic acid prior to conception and during early pregnancy is recommended for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTD). Strategies to increase folic acid consumption include supplements and fortified foods. Milk is consumed by women and can be fortified with folic acid but little is known about the effect of fortified milk on blood folate concentration in women of childbearing age. The objective of this study was to determine whether daily consumption of milk fortified with 375 microg folic acid increases blood folate and lowers homocysteine concentrations in women of childbearing age. Seventy-three non-pregnant women (aged 18-47 y) were randomized to receive either 75 g/d of a fortified or unfortified (control) milk powder for 12 weeks. Women who consumed the folic acid fortified milk had mean (95% CI) red blood cell and plasma folate concentrations that were 539 nmol/L (436, 641) and 35 nmol/L (30, 41) higher, respectively, than in the control group. Women drinking fortified milk had a 14% lower mean plasma homocysteine concentration at week 12 than women consuming the control milk. Daily consumption of fortified milk powder providing 375 microg folic acid increases blood folate and lowers homocysteine concentrations over 12 weeks in women of childbearing age. Daily consumption of fortified milk would be expected to reduce NTD risk.     

Folic acid supplementation and risk for imperforate anus in China.

Maternal consumption of folic acid before pregnancy and during early pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk for some birth defects. Whether folic acid can reduce the risk for imperforate anus is unknown. As part of a public health campaign conducted in China from 1993 through 1995, the outcomes of pregnancies of > or =20 weeks' gestation were evaluated among women using folic acid supplements. The women were asked to take one pill containing 400 microg of folic acid (without other vitamins) every day from the time of their premarital examination until the end of their first trimester of pregnancy. Rates of imperforate anus and risk ratios for imperforate anus among the offspring of these women were calculated according to folic acid use. Among the offspring of women who took folic acid and women who did not take folic acid, 20 and 30 infants with imperforate anus were identified, respectively. The rate of imperforate anus was 3.1 per 10,000 among the offspring of women who did not take folic acid and 1.6 per 10,000 among the offspring of women who took folic acid; adjusted for maternal age, the risk ratio was 0.59 (95% confidence interval: 0.33, 1.07). Daily maternal consumption of 400 microg of folic acid before and during early pregnancy may reduce the risk for imperforate anus.     

出生缺陷高发区与低发区孕早期妇女叶酸知信行现况比较

目的了解出生缺陷高发区与低发区孕早期妇女叶酸知信行状况.方法采用横断面调查与对比研究，对出生缺陷高发与低发4个地区共1554名孕早期妇女的叶酸知识的了解情况、服用叶酸增补剂的态度及叶酸增补剂服用情况进行了问卷调查。结果出生缺陷高发区孕早期妇女听说过叶酸的比例(农村22．7％、城市60．7％)、知道叶酸预防神经管畸形作用的比例(农村18．1％、城市51．5％)，低于出生缺陷低发区妇女(农村85．1％、城市85．6％；农村、城市76．1％)；对于叶酸增补剂最佳服用时期，高发区农村孕早期妇女知晓率为16．3％、城市为35．9％，低于出生缺陷低发区(农村68．2％、城市68．8％)；出生缺陷高发区妇女认为有必要服用叶酸增补剂的比例(农村20．4％、城市50．7％)远低于出生缺陷低发区(农村76．1％、城市79．7％)；出生缺陷高发区城市与农村妇女叶酸增补剂服用率仅为8．5％和31．1％，低于出生缺陷低发区(农村63．4％、城市67．5％)。结论出生缺陷高发区孕早期妇女叶酸知识缺乏，叶酸增补剂服用率低。应通过健康教育和宣传，提高出生缺陷高发区育龄妇女对叶酸的认识和增补率。     

Promotion of folate for the prevention of neural tube defects: who benefits?

Since the publication of randomised trials showing firm evidence of prevention of neural tube defects with periconceptional folic acid, there have been population health promotion programmes to encourage women to take folic acid supplements, and the introduction of voluntary fortification of some foods with folic acid in Australia. In order to evaluate these two strategies, we collected data by self-administered questionnaire from a random sample of recently pregnant women in Western Australia between September 1997 and March 2000. Response to health promotion was measured in three ways: (1) knowledge of the association between periconceptional folate and prevention of spina bifida (the 'correct message'); (2) use of periconceptional vitamin supplements of folic acid daily in the periconceptional period; and (3) daily folate intake from fortified foods in the 6 months before pregnancy. We examined the relationship of maternal demographic and behavioural characteristics with these three measures. Overall, 62.3% of women were aware of the correct message before pregnancy, 28.5% reported taking 200 microg or more of folic acid from supplements daily in the periconceptional period and 56.6% of women obtained 100 microg or more of folic acid from fortified foods. Women who first became aware of the correct message during pregnancy or who were unaware of the correct message before or during pregnancy were more likely than women aware before pregnancy to be younger, having their first pregnancy, be single or in a de facto relationship, have no tertiary education, and be a public patient. Similar associations were seen for women taking either no folic acid or < 200 microg of folic acid in supplements daily in the periconceptional period. There were no significant associations between these demographic variables and amount of folate obtained from fortified foods. Women who were unaware of the correct message and did not take folic acid supplements were more likely to have smoked, not to have engaged in exercise, and not to have planned their pregnancy, whereas there was no association with these behavioural characteristics and intake of folate from fortified foods. These results indicate that health promotion strategies have not reached all segments of the target population equally, but there is no such disparity with folate-fortified foods, and they suggest that mandatory fortification of a staple food is likely to reach all women regardless of demographic and behavioural characteristics, and hence provide improved opportunity for prevention of neural tube defects in Australia.     

Folate status of reproductive age women and neural tube defect risk: the effect of long-term folic acid supplementation at doses of 140 µg and 400 µg per day

Primary prevention of most folate-responsive neural tube defects (NTDs) may not require 400 μg folic acid/day but may be achieved by attaining a high maternal folate status. Using RBC folate ≥906 nmol/L as a marker for NTD risk reduction, the study aimed to determine the change in blood folate concentrations in reproductive age women in response to long-term folic acid supplementation at 400 μg/day and 140 μg/day (dose designed to mimic the average daily folic acid intake received from New Zealand's proposed mandatory bread fortification program). Participants were randomly assigned to a daily folic acid supplement of 140 μg (n = 49), 400 μg (n = 48) or placebo (n = 47) for 40 weeks. RBC folate concentrations were measured at baseline, and after 6, 12, 29 and 40 weeks. At 40 weeks, the overall prevalence of having a RBC folate <906 nmol/L decreased to 18% and 35% in the 400 μg and 140 μg groups, respectively, while remaining relatively unchanged at 58% in the placebo group. After 40 weeks, there was no evidence of a difference in RBC folate between the two treatment groups (P = 0.340), nor was there evidence of a difference in the odds of a RBC folate <906 nmol/L (P = 0.078). In conclusion, the average daily intake of folic acid received from the proposed fortification program would increase RBC folate concentrations in reproductive age women to levels associated with a low risk of NTDs.