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[Prevention of neural tube defects: regional policies in folic acid enrichment and supplementation].

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The USA and Canada had already started an obligatory food fortification with folic acid in 1998; In 2009, Australia and New Zealand also started to do so.

METHODS

A survey was carried out among members of The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC).

RESULTS

Most of the European countries go along with the recommendation of 200 μg folic acid (or 400 μg folic acid equivalents) for adults and 300 μg (600 μg) for pregnant women. To prevent neural tube defects, an additional supplementation of 0,4 mg folic acid is recommended for women before conception. So far, none of the European countries has implemented an obligatory folic acid enrichment of grain or other food, but this step is under discussion.

CONCLUSION

In a European market with free trading of goods it is of utmost importance that especially those (socially deprived) women in most need of folic acid, are reached. A common European decision for/against fortification should be considered. Public Health ethics demand not only good evidence for the benefit, but also a good estimation of the (potential) risks. Due to a paucity of good risk estimation, no European country has plans to decide in favour of an obligatory fortification on its own.

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    Authors+Show Affiliations

    Wild C
    ,

    Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Österreich. Claudia.wild@hta.lbg.ac.at

    Lehner P
    ,
    Reiselhuber S
    ,
    Schiller-Frühwirth I

    Source

    MeSH

    Adult
    Austria
    Dietary Supplements
    Female
    Folic Acid
    Food, Fortified
    Health Policy
    Humans
    Male
    Neural Tube Defects
    Pregnancy
    Prevalence
    Proportional Hazards Models
    Regional Medical Programs
    Risk Assessment
    Risk Factors
    Vitamin B Complex

    Pub Type(s)

    English Abstract
    Journal Article

    Language

    ger

    PubMed ID

    20198564

    Citation

    Wild, C, et al. "[Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: Regional Policies in Folic Acid Enrichment and Supplementation]." Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband Der Arzte Des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)), vol. 72, no. 12, 2010, pp. 875-9.
    Wild C, Lehner P, Reiselhuber S, et al. [Prevention of neural tube defects: regional policies in folic acid enrichment and supplementation]. Gesundheitswesen. 2010;72(12):875-9.
    Wild, C., Lehner, P., Reiselhuber, S., & Schiller-Frühwirth, I. (2010). [Prevention of neural tube defects: regional policies in folic acid enrichment and supplementation]. Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband Der Arzte Des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)), 72(12), pp. 875-9. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1246171.
    Wild C, et al. [Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: Regional Policies in Folic Acid Enrichment and Supplementation]. Gesundheitswesen. 2010;72(12):875-9. PubMed PMID: 20198564.
    * Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
    TY - JOUR T1 - [Prevention of neural tube defects: regional policies in folic acid enrichment and supplementation]. AU - Wild,C, AU - Lehner,P, AU - Reiselhuber,S, AU - Schiller-Frühwirth,I, Y1 - 2010/03/02/ PY - 2010/3/4/entrez PY - 2010/3/4/pubmed PY - 2011/4/19/medline SP - 875 EP - 9 JF - Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) JO - Gesundheitswesen VL - 72 IS - 12 N2 - BACKGROUND: The USA and Canada had already started an obligatory food fortification with folic acid in 1998; In 2009, Australia and New Zealand also started to do so. METHODS: A survey was carried out among members of The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC). RESULTS: Most of the European countries go along with the recommendation of 200 μg folic acid (or 400 μg folic acid equivalents) for adults and 300 μg (600 μg) for pregnant women. To prevent neural tube defects, an additional supplementation of 0,4 mg folic acid is recommended for women before conception. So far, none of the European countries has implemented an obligatory folic acid enrichment of grain or other food, but this step is under discussion. CONCLUSION: In a European market with free trading of goods it is of utmost importance that especially those (socially deprived) women in most need of folic acid, are reached. A common European decision for/against fortification should be considered. Public Health ethics demand not only good evidence for the benefit, but also a good estimation of the (potential) risks. Due to a paucity of good risk estimation, no European country has plans to decide in favour of an obligatory fortification on its own. SN - 1439-4421 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/20198564/[Prevention_of_neural_tube_defects:_regional_policies_in_folic_acid_enrichment_and_supplementation]_ L2 - http://www.thieme-connect.com/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0029-1246171 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -