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[Prevention of neural tube defects: regional policies in folic acid enrichment and supplementation].
Gesundheitswesen. 2010 Dec; 72(12):875-9.G

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.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors+Show Affiliations

Wild C
Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Österreich. Claudia.wild@hta.lbg.ac.at
Lehner P
No affiliation info available
Reiselhuber S
No affiliation info available
Schiller-Frühwirth I
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAustriaDietary SupplementsFemaleFolic AcidFood, FortifiedHealth PolicyHumansMaleNeural Tube DefectsPregnancyPrevalenceProportional Hazards ModelsRegional Medical ProgramsRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsVitamin 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), 875-9. https://doi.org/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 -