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Folic Acid-Containing Multivitamins and Primary Prevention of Birth Defects

  • Chapter
Preventive Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Key Points

  • Neural-tube defects are preventable by periconceptional folic acid or multivitamin supplementation.

  • The incidence of some other structural birth defects also can be reduced by folic acidcontaining multivitamin use during the periconception period.

  • All women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume folic acid and/or folic acid-containing multivitamins during the periconception period.

  • The primary prevention of birth defects by periconceptional folic acid/multivitamin supplementation is much better than the so-called secondary prevention (i.e., the termination of pregnancy because of severe fetal defects).

  • In addition to other benefits, periconceptional care is optimal for the introduction of periconceptional folic acid/multivitamin supplementation.

  • Food (flour) fortification is the most practical means of supplementation of folic acid and other vitamins for all women.

  • Proper preparation for conception is the earliest and most effective method for the prevention of birth defects.

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  1. Foundation for the Community Control of Heredity Diseases, Budapest, Hungary

    Andrew E. Czeizel MD

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  1. GlaxoSmithKline, Parsippany, NJ

    Adrianne Bendich PhD, FACN

  2. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY

    Richard J. Deckelbaum MD, FRCP(C)

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Czeizel, A.E. (2005). Folic Acid-Containing Multivitamins and Primary Prevention of Birth Defects. In: Bendich, A., Deckelbaum, R.J. (eds) Preventive Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-880-9_24

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