Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jing Dong, Lin-Liang Yin, Xue-Dong Deng, Chun-Ya Ji, Qi Pan, Zhong Yang, Ting Peng, Jiang-Nan Wu
Summary: Early supplementation of folic acid (FA) during pregnancy reduces the risk of congenital malformations, especially heart defects. Starting FA supplementation 1.5 months before conception and continuing for 4 months is the optimal option for prevention of congenital malformations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muhammad Zubayr Saib, Barnesh Lalloo Dhada, Colleen Aldous, Helen Louise Malherbe
Summary: This study aimed to address the lack of data on congenital anomalies in South Africa, finding a birth prevalence rate of 15.57 per 1,000 live births at Edendale Hospital, with musculoskeletal system anomalies being the most common.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Marta Czarnowska-Kujawska, Joanna Klepacka, Olga Zielinska, Maria de Lourdes Samaniego-Vaesken
Summary: The dietary supplements market in Poland has a high number of products containing folic acid, but many of them do not meet the declared values on the labels, raising concerns about inaccurate information. The results indicate the urgent need for improvements in the notification system and monitoring the authenticity of these products to ensure consumers are provided with accurate folic acid supplements.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Mingming Cui, Xiao-Lin Lu, Yan-Yu Lyu, Fang Wang, Xiao-Lu Xie, Xi-Yue Cheng, Ting Zhang
Summary: The survey showed that most pregnant women in China are aware of folic acid (FA), but the rate of preconception intake of FA needs to be improved, especially among women in rural areas, homemakers, and those with unplanned pregnancies.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anna Linnell, Niamh Murphy, Jon Godwin, Alexandra Cremona
Summary: This study found suboptimal folic acid supplementation practices among the antenatal population, particularly in women with obesity. Increased patient education and awareness are needed to align folic acid supplementation practices with best practice guidelines during the antenatal period.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ying Zhao, Duoyuan Chen, Jianping Tang, Yufang Zheng, Ji Qi, Hongyan Wang
Summary: Dietary folate deficiency can lead to genome instability and birth defects. A study using mice found that a folate-deficient diet for two generations increased the rate of de novo mutations and suggested that these mutations accumulate in gamete cells. The study also indicated that both maternal and paternal folate supplementation may be necessary and beneficial in preventing birth defects.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Melissa van der Windt, Sam Schoenmakers, Bas van Rijn, Sander Galjaard, Regine Steegers-Theunissen, Lenie van Rossem
Summary: Obese women are at higher risk of folate deficiency and neural tube defects, necessitating increased folic acid supplementation. However, the limited physiological uptake of synthetic folic acid and potential side effects require further research and personalized counseling.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jie Yang, Zulihumaer Reheman, Yunjie Liu, Yuan Wang, Nan Wang, Jinbiao Ye, Yangyuan Li, Jingchun Nie
Summary: This study investigated the usage of free folic acid supplements and the impact of knowledge on their usage among rural pregnant women in China. The results showed suboptimal usage of folic acid supplements despite government distribution. Awareness of folic acid policy was positively associated with the picking up and intake of folic acid, while knowledge of health and nutrition during pregnancy was related to a longer duration of folic acid intake but had no impact on the picking up rate and periconceptional intake.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Juan Antonio Cordero-Varela, Marta Reyes-Corral, Miguel Lao-Perez, Beatriz Fernandez-Santos, Fernando Montenegro-Elvira, Lluis Sempere, Patricia Ybot-Gonzalez
Summary: Adequate nutrient supply is crucial for embryonic development, and both maternal diet and gut microbiota play a role in nutrient availability. The study of a mouse model suggests that gut microbiota is associated with folic acid and inositol supplementation and may affect nutrient absorption.
Article
Biology
Xiaoyu Che, Jufen Liu, Gabriel L. Galea, Yali Zhang, Nicholas D. E. Greene, Le Zhang, Lei Jin, Linlin Wang, Aiguo Ren, Zhiwen Li
Summary: Neural tube defects are severe congenital malformations, and folic acid supplementation can reduce their prevalence in northern China. The presence of comorbid malformations suggests a shared etiology.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Gideon Koren, Yusuf C. Kaplan
Summary: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, with folic acid playing a key role during pregnancy. Studies suggest that decreased placental folate transporter expression in obese mothers may contribute to the higher incidence of NTD in their infants. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between folate dose and serum folate levels, but obese women exhibit lower median serum folate and vitamin B-12 levels.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Joan K. Morris, Marie-Claude Addor, Elisa Ballardini, Ingeborg Barisic, Laia Barrachina-Bonet, Paula Braz, Clara Cavero-Carbonell, Elly Den Hond, Ester Garne, Miriam Gatt, Martin Haeusler, Babak Khoshnood, Nathalie Lelong, Agnieszka Kinsner-Ovaskainen, Sonja Kiuru-Kuhlefelt, Kari Klungsoyr, Anna Latos-Bielenska, Elizabeth Limb, Mary T. O'Mahony, Isabelle Perthus, Anna Pierini, Judith Rankin, Anke Rissmann, Florence Rouget, Gerardine Sayers, Antonin Sipek, Sarah Stevens, David Tucker, Christine Verellen-Dumoulin, Hermien E. K. de Walle, Diana Wellesley, Wladimir Wertelecki, Eva Bermejo-Sanchez
Summary: The study suggests that the failure to implement mandatory folic acid fortification in the 28 European countries has led to neural tube defects occurring in nearly 1,000 pregnancies every year.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Marion L. Roche, Kaitlyn L. Samson, Tim J. Green, Crystal D. Karakochuk, Homero Martinez
Summary: Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) is a key effective action for improving adolescent nutrition recommended by WHO, but the formulation is not included in the Model Essential Medicines List (MEML) currently. Recent folic acid efficacy trial may provide evidence for potential inclusion of WIFAS on MEML to accelerate global efforts in anemia and NTD reduction.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Molla Taye
Summary: The study revealed differences in parents' knowledge and beliefs about congenital malformations and their causes, with some being traditional beliefs while others are related to modern lifestyle factors. The findings highlight the challenges and impacts of congenital malformations on parents and their children, providing valuable information for designing preventive actions.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hanqi Luo, Kenneth H. Brown, Christine P. Stewart, Laurel A. Beckett, Adrienne Clermont, Stephen A. Vosti, Jules M. Guintang Assiene, Reina Engle-Stone
Summary: Different models predicting the effects of folic acid fortification programs on neural tube defects show wide variation in estimated outcomes, with some results being implausible, undermining the utility of the models for users. It is recommended to collect dietary and biomarker data concurrently to validate the models, and models based on erythrocyte folate concentration are recommended for their biological plausibility and consistency with empirical evidence.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2021)