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- Title
Minimum effective dose of folic acid for food fortification to prevent neural-tube defects.
- Authors
Daly, S; Mills, J L; Molloy, A M; Conley, M; Lee, Y J; Kirke, P N; Weir, D G; Scott, J M
- Abstract
Although a daily supplement of 400 micrograms folic acid has been shown to prevent neural-tube defects (NTD), most women do not take the recommended supplement. Thus, food fortification is to be introduced in the USA and is being considered in the UK. Because of safety concerns, the USA has chosen a level of fortification that will increase the average woman's intake by only 100 micrograms. Such an increase, although safe, may be ineffective; but a trial to assess its efficacy would be unethical. Because women with red-cell folate concentrations above 400 micrograms/L have a very low risk of NTD, we undertook a randomised trial of several folic acid doses to find out how much is needed to reach this protective concentration.
- Publication
Lancet (London, England), 1997, Vol 350, Issue 9092, p1666
- ISSN
0140-6736
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1016/S0140-6736(97)07247-4