Periconceptional folate intake by supplement and food reduces the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate

BACKGROUND: Inadequate maternal vitamin intake during pregnancy has been suggested as a risk factor for cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP). The independent role of folate has not been clarified. METHODS: To investigate the association between maternal folate intake by supplement and food and the risk of CLP offspring, a case-control study was conducted in the Netherlands (1998-2000) among 174 mothers of a child with nonsyndromic CLP and 203 mothers of a child without congenital malformations. RESULTS: Daily use of a folic acid supplement by mothers starting from 4 weeks before until 8 weeks after conception gave a 47% CLP risk reduction compared to mothers who did not use these supplements [odds ratio (OR): 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33, 0.85]. Ninety-three percent of the users took a supplement containing folic acid only. Dietary folate intake reduced CLP risk independently in a dose-response manner. The largest risk reductions were found on those mothers who had a diet of more than 200 microg folate per day in combination with a folic acid supplement (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that periconceptional maternal folic acid supplement use was beneficial to reduce the risk for CLP. An additional effect of food folate was shown.     

Folic acid and prevention of spina bifida and anencephaly. 10 years after the U.S. Public Health Service recommendation.

In September 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended that all women capable of becoming pregnant should consume 400 microg of folic acid/day on an ongoing basis to reduce their risk for having a pregnancy affected by spina bifida and anencephaly (i.e., neural tube defects [NTDs]). The recommendation was preceded a year earlier by a CDC recommendation for women at high risk (i.e., those women who have had an earlier pregnancy affected by an NTD). The 1991 CDC recommendation stated that women at high risk should plan subsequent pregnancies and consume 4,000 microg/day of folic acid from the time they begin trying to become pregnant through the first trimester of pregnancy to reduce their risk. The 1992 USPHS recommendation specified that women at high risk should follow the general population recommendation for consumption of 400 microg/day when not trying to become pregnant.     

Folic acid and neural tube defect: can't we come to closure?

In a series of nonrandomized and randomized intervention trials and case-control and cohort studies, women using multivitamins or folic acid supplements during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy experienced a three- to fourfold reduction in neural tube defects among their offspring. Viewed collectively, these data provide strong evidence that an important subset of US women do not receive sufficient folic acid to minimize their risk of a defective pregnancy. Further, the amounts of folic acid contained in multivitamins (usually 200-400 micrograms per day) appear adequate to greatly reduce, and probably eliminate, the excess risk.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

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 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.     

Folic Acid Use in Planned Pregnancy: An Italian Survey

It is well known that periconceptional folic acid supplementation decreases the risk of neural tube defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and practices of women with planned pregnancies regarding periconceptional folic acid intake and to identify factors associated with the use of this supplement. During 2 years of observation, we surveyed women with planned pregnancies who called our Teratology Information Service. A total of 500 women were surveyed: 217 (43.4 %) took folic acid before becoming pregnant, and 283 (56.6 %) did not take it. The women who took folic acid before becoming pregnant had a high education level and received preconception counselling. Our results suggest that less than half of Italian women took folic acid before they became pregnant although they were trying to conceive. Knowledge about the benefits of this vitamin is inadequate also among women who planned the pregnancy and the level of information received from their physicians.     

北京市郊区育龄妇女叶酸服用现状调查

目的 了解2016年北京市郊区备孕期及妊娠期妇女叶酸的补充现状。方法 2016年10-11月采用整群抽样方法在北京市郊区抽取6家医院，共计722名育龄妇女进行问卷调查。结果 有效样本量为714人，叶酸服用率为63.9%（456/714）；叶酸规律服用率为83.3%（380/456）。在记得叶酸服用天数的450名妇女中，35.5%（159/450）在孕前开始服用叶酸，其中27.3%（123/450）在孕前0~3个月开始服用叶酸，8.0%（36/450）在孕前3个月开始服用叶酸。多因素logistic回归分析发现户口性质、备孕期或妊娠期、产妇类型、吸烟和饮酒情况是服用叶酸产品或复合产品的影响因素。结论 北京市郊区育龄妇女叶酸服用现状不容乐观，需要进一步加大叶酸相关知识的宣传力度，从而提高叶酸服用率和规律服用率、促进母婴健康及降低母婴并发症。     

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.     

神经管畸形高、低发区农村孕早期妇女血液叶酸水平比较研究

目的 了解神经管畸形高发区与低发区农村孕早期妇女血液叶酸状况。方法 采用现况调查方法对2003年神经管畸形高发与低发两个地区共688名农村孕早期妇女的血浆叶酸与红细胞叶酸水平进行研究。结果 高发区农村孕早期妇女血浆叶酸浓度（10．53nmol／L）与红细胞叶酸浓度（389．2nmol／L）中位数明显低于低发区妇女（血浆叶酸30．39nmol/L，红细胞叶酸926．0nmol／L），差异有统计学意义；高发区妇女血浆叶酸缺乏率约为50％，红细胞叶酸缺乏率约为43％，远高于低发区妇女（血浆叶酸6％，红细胞叶酸4％），差异有统计学意义；高、低发区服用叶酸组妇女血浆叶酸水平约为不服用组的2倍，红细胞叶酸水平是不服用组的1．4倍，差异有统计学意义；高、低发区服用叶酸组孕早期妇女的血浆缺乏率均低于不服用组，相对危险度（RR）值分别为0．60（95％CI：0．36～1．01）与0．16（95％CI：0．06～0．44），差异均有统计学意义；高、低发区服用叶酸组与不服用组红细胞叶酸缺乏率之间的RR值分别为0．64（95％CI：0．36～1．13）与0．39（95％CI：0．13～1．13），差异无统计学意义；服用叶酸的孕早期妇女中，低发区血浆叶酸水平约为高发区的1．7～1．9倍，红细胞叶酸水平约为高发区的2倍，差异有统计学意义；服用叶酸的孕早期妇女中，高发区血浆叶酸与红细胞叶酸缺乏率约为低发区的10～14倍，差异有统计学意义。结论 神经管畸形高发区农村孕早期妇女血液叶酸水平很低，增补叶酸可有效提高妇女血液叶酸水平、降低妇女叶酸缺乏率，高发区育龄妇女怀孕前后每日服用0．4mg叶酸的剂量可能不足，建议增加服用剂量。     

Low maternal vitamin B-12 status is associated with offspring insulin resistance regardless of antenatal micronutrient supplementation in rural Nepal

Questions have been raised about potentially negative effects of antenatal folic acid use in populations with a high prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Our objective was to examine the association between maternal folate and vitamin B-12 status in pregnancy on offspring insulin resistance and examine whether the effects of maternal micronutrient supplementation varied by baseline maternal folate and/or vitamin B-12 status. Pregnant women were cluster randomized to receive daily supplements containing vitamin A alone or with folic acid, folic acid+iron, folic acid+iron+zinc, or a multiple micronutrient. In a subsample (n = 1132), micronutrient status biomarkers were analyzed at baseline and late pregnancy. Children born to the women who participated in the trial were visited at 6-8 y of age. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin were used to estimate insulin resistance using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Children whose mothers were deficient in vitamin B-12 (<148 pmol/L, 27%) during early pregnancy had a 26.7% increase in HOMA-IR (P = 0.02), but there was no association with maternal folate status. Among children born to women who were vitamin B-12 deficient at baseline, the percent difference in HOMA-IR compared to the control group was 15.1% (95% CI: -35.9, 106.4), 4.9% (-41.6, 88.5), 3.3% (-38.4, 73.5), and 18.1% (-29.0, 96.7) in the folic acid, folic acid-iron, folic acid-iron-zinc, and multiple micronutrient supplementation groups, respectively, none of which were significant. Maternal vitamin B-12 deficiency is associated with an elevated risk of insulin resistance, but supplementation with folic acid or other micronutrients led to no significant change in insulin resistance in school-aged offspring.     

Determinants of folic acid knowledge and use among antenatal women.

BACKGROUND: Although recommendations on folic acid use were issued by health authorities in a number of countries in the early 1990s, uptake of peri-conceptional folic acid is still disappointingly low. Regardless of food fortification policies, folic acid promotion will probably be required in most countries to optimize folate levels among women of child-bearing age. The aim of this study was to examine folic acid knowledge and use, and their determinants among antenatal women in the east of Ireland in 1997. METHODS: Three hundred antenatal women attending their initial booking appointment in three Dublin maternity hospitals were surveyed. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used with questions on folic acid knowledge and use, and demographic and obstetric questions. A univariate analysis of data was undertaken followed by a multivariate analysis using logistic regression to determine factors predicting knowledge and use of folic acid. RESULTS: Seventy-six per cent of respondents had heard of folic acid, 16 per cent had taken it before pregnancy and 51 per cent during pregnancy. Women who had planned their pregnancy, were married and were relatively affluent were significantly more likely to have heard of folic acid, to know that it could prevent neural tube defects and to have taken it peri-conceptionally. Less affluent women tended to use their general practitioner (GP) more as a source of information and advice than those who were better off. In multivariate analysis, marriage and planned pregnancy were important predictors of folic acid knowledge whereas planned pregnancy advice given before pregnancy and relative affluence were predictive of peri-conceptional use. CONCLUSIONS: Many women know of folic acid but do not take it peri-conceptionally. Women may associate folic acid with pregnancy and less with pre-pregnancy. Greater emphasis on peri-conceptional use should improve folic acid uptake. Focusing on less affluent women for folic acid promotion by GPs and other primary care professionals is also important.     

Periconceptional maternal fever,folic acid intake,and the risk for neural tube defects

PurposePrevious studies have shown an association between maternal fever in early pregnancy and neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida. Periconceptional folic acid intake has been shown to reduce the risk of these outcomes.MethodsUsing data from the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study (1998–2015), we examined the impact of folic acid on the relationship between maternal fever in the periconceptional period (28 days before and after the last menstrual period) and NTDs. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsMothers of 375 cases and 8247 nonmalformed controls were included. We observed an elevated risk for NTDs for fever in the periconceptional period (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.5–4.0). This association was weaker for mothers who reported consuming the recommended amount of folic acid (≥400 μg per day; OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 0.8–4.0) than mothers with low folic acid intake (<400 μg per day; OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 2.2–8.2).ConclusionsOur data support an association between maternal periconceptional fever and an increased risk for NTDs and also provide evidence that this association was attenuated for mothers who reported consuming folic acid at recommended levels in the periconceptional period.     

124例孕妇妊娠期血清叶酸水平动态观察

[目的 ]　观察孕期血清叶酸水平变化 ,为孕妇补充叶酸提供依据。　 [方法 ]　用放射免疫法检测 12 4例孕妇孕早、中、晚期血清叶酸水平动态变化 ,检测非孕健康妇女 40例作为对照组 ,同时问卷调查孕期饮食及补充叶酸制剂情况。　 [结果 ]　①随着妊娠周数增加 ,血清叶酸水平逐渐下降 ,至孕晚期叶酸明显下降 ,与孕早期、孕中期相比差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 0 1)。②孕期补充叶酸与未补充叶酸孕妇比较孕晚期血清叶酸水平差异显著 (P <0 .0 0 1)。　 [结论 ]　孕期只通过膳食补充叶酸是不够的 ,还需要摄取含叶酸的维生素类补给品。     

Commercially available folic acid supplements and their compliance with the British Pharmacopoeia test for dissolution

A recent report suggested that some folic acid preparations available in the United States failed to meet the specifications for dissolution specified by the US Pharmacopoeia (USP), of 70 per cent drug release in the first hour of testing. The Teratology Society recommends that women of childbearing age should take a daily supplement of 400 microg folic acid when they are trying to conceive, to reduce the risk of foetal neural tube defects. The consequence of this failure to meet the USP requirements may be that an inadequate dose of folate may be absorbed and thus the expected level of protection against neural tube defects not afforded. The purpose of the present study was to examine a number of brands of folic acid (400 microg), available commercially in the United Kingdom, for compliance with the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) test for dissolution. Ten tablets (or capsules) from each of 11 brands were tested using dissolution apparatus compliant with BP requirements, using 0.1 M sodium hydroxide as the dissolution medium. The results indicated that four of the brands failed to release 70 per cent of the nominal drug content in the first hour of test and thus did not comply with the test. Two of the seven brands that passed the test went on to release more than 150 per cent of the nominal 400 microg drug content. These results highlight the problems of dose uniformity and the potential health risks of slow dissolution and under-dosing in commercially available folic acid dosage forms.     

Continuing low uptake of periconceptional folate warrants increased food fortification

Objective To assess whether the Health Education Authority's recent promotion of periconceptional folic acid has been successful in increasing uptake sufficient to prevent neural tube defects.
Design A retrospective questionnaire, completed by 162 patients in the early pregnancy clinic in Doncaster Royal Infirmary, an average-sized UK district general hospital. The study ran in February and March 1999.
Methods and main outcome measures Data were collected on: supplementation and dietary intake of folic acid, both preconceptionally and after confirmation of pregnancy; awareness of the benefits of folic acid; source of information on folic acid; the reasons for not taking folic acid (if this was so); planned or unplanned pregnancy; previous pregnancies; previous neural tube defect in a pregnancy; smoking habit; and age.
Results Eighty-one per cent of women were aware of the benefits of folic acid, but only 27% took it preconceptionally. Sixty-eight per cent took it after confirmation of pregnancy. A quarter of patients made an attempt to increase dietary folate. Unplanned pregnancy was a significant bar to uptake, with significant differences in awareness and consumption. Number of pregnancies had no effect. Older women were more likely to take postconceptional folate, but awareness and preconceptional use were the same as younger women.
Conclusion Despite an extensive campaign commissioned by the Department of Health and run by the Health Education Authority, use of periconceptional folate will probably only prevent one-sixth of affected pregnancies. The adverse effects of fortification discussed in the body of this paper are small. It is now time for increased fortification of all cereal-grain products to be instituted in the UK in a similar manner to the United States.