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Fortifying food with folic acid can greatly reduce
the incidence of spina bifida and other birth defects,
says a Canadian study in the latest issue of BMC Pregnancy
and Childbirth. The study found a 78 percent reduction
in the number of babies born with neural tube defects
in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador after the
Canadian government made it mandatory in 1998 that folic
acid had to be added to pasta, flour and cornmeal.
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MONDAY, Sept. 27 2004 (HealthDayNews)
Historically, Newfoundland
and Labrador has had among the highest rates of neural tube
defects in North America.
After
folic fortification was introduced, the dietary intake of folic
acid increased by an average of 70 micrograms per day among
a group of women of childbearing age in Newfoundland and Labrador
who took part in the study. The incidence of neural tube defects
in the province went from an average of 4.36 defects per 1,000
births between 1991 and 1997 to an average of 0.96 defects
per 1,000 births between 1998 and 2001.
The study noted that
over the study period, the number of women aged 19 to 44 who
took folic acid supplements increased from 17 percent to 28
percent. The authors noted that it wasn't possible for their
study to determine the separate contributions of folic acid
supplement use and food fortification to the province's reduction
of neural tube defects.
Therefore, "public education regarding folic acid supplement use by women of
childbearing age should continue," the authors wrote.
Since the early 1990s,
many health organizations have recommended that women take 400 micrograms of
supplemental folic acid per day before they conceive and in the early weeks of
pregnancy.
More information
The National Women's Health Information Center has
more about folic
acid.
Copyright © 2004 HealthDay.
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