Authors:
Berry RJ, Bailey L, Mulinare J, Bower C.
Authors notes:
Food and Nutrition Bulletin 2010;31:S22-35.
Keywords:
fortification of flour, folic acid, consumption of folic acid before pregnancy, early weeks of gestation, reduces risk of neural tube defect
Abstract:
After randomized, controlled trials established that consumption of folic acid before pregnancy and during the early weeks of gestation reduces the risk of a neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancy, the United States Public Health Service recommended in 1992 that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microg folic acid daily. In 1998, folic acid fortification of all enriched cereal grain product flour was fully implemented in the United States and Canada.