Folic acid fortification of flour to prevent neural tube defects in Europe – A position statement by the European Board and college of obstetrics and gynaecology (EBCOG)

Sarah Petch; Fionnuala McAuliffe; Sharleen O'Reilly; Cliona Murphy; Sam Coulter-Smith; Diogo Ayes de Campos; Hajra Khattak; Tahir Mahmood

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.10.010

Full length article| Volume 279, P109-111, December 2022

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Folic acid fortification of flour to prevent neural tube defects in Europe – A position statement by the European Board and college of obstetrics and gynaecology (EBCOG)

Sarah Petch
Sarah Petch
Correspondence
Corresponding authors.
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Affiliations
Higher Specialist Trainee in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National Maternity Hospital, Ireland
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Fionnuala McAuliffe
Fionnuala McAuliffe
Correspondence
Corresponding authors.
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Affiliations
Head of Women’s and Children’s Health, University College Dublin & National Maternity Hospital, Ireland
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Sharleen O'Reilly
Sharleen O'Reilly
Affiliations
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
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Cliona Murphy
Cliona Murphy
Affiliations
National Women’s and Infants Health Programme, Health Services Executive, Ireland
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Sam Coulter-Smith
Sam Coulter-Smith
Affiliations
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Ireland
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Diogo Ayes de Campos
Diogo Ayes de Campos
Affiliations
Santa Maria University Hospital, Medical School, University of Lisbon, Portugal
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Hajra Khattak
Hajra Khattak
Affiliations
Specialty Registrar in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, United Kingdom and ENTOG Representative, United Kingdom
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Tahir Mahmood ¹
Author Footnotes
1 Chair EBCOG Standing Committee on Standards of Care and Position Statements.
Tahir Mahmood
Footnotes
1 Chair EBCOG Standing Committee on Standards of Care and Position Statements.
Affiliations
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom
Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Author Footnotes
1 Chair EBCOG Standing Committee on Standards of Care and Position Statements.

Published:October 14, 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.10.010

Abstract

Neural tube defects are disabling birth defects developing during the very early stages of conception. Children born with spina bifida face significant physical, psychological and social consequences. They may have bowel and urinary dysfunction, and no lower limb muscle control, resulting in lifelong wheelchair use. There is robust evidence that periconceptual folic acid supplementation prevents neural tube defects, when compared with no intervention. However, approximately 40% pregnancies in Europe are unplanned, and women may therefore not be taking prophylactic folic acid at the time of conception. There is evidence that low dose folic acid consumption via flour fortification provides further benefits in prevention of neural tube defects.

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Published online: October 14, 2022

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.10.010

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Folic acid fortification of flour to prevent neural tube defects in Europe – A position statement by the European Board and college of obstetrics and gynaecology (EBCOG)

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