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Folic acid supplementation in Italian women during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study conducted in general practice.
Nutrition. 2020 Nov - Dec; 79-80:110886.N

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

The association between folate insufficiency and congenital neural tube defects has been extensively investigated since the 1990s. To reach an adequate intake of folic acid (FA), improving folate status through periconceptional supplementation with FA, promotion of the consumption of foods rich in natural folates, and appropriate use of fortified foods is recommended. The aim of the present study was to investigate the supplementation of FA in a sample of pregnant women referred to general practice services in Italy, with a focus on the quality of information received by fertile women.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from patients admitted to 44 general practice offices enrolled in the Italian Society of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle study and located in Italy throughout the national territory. A questionnaire for the evaluation of FA supplementation was administered by the general practitioners (GPs). The interviewed subjects were asked to provide information about pregnancy characteristics, nutritional habits, lifestyle and risk factors, information sources, and knowledge about FA.

RESULTS

This study included 328 participants. The percentage of women who did not take any FA supplements was 16.8%, and 66.4% of women started FA supplementation only after finding out they were pregnant. Only 16.8% of women started FA supplementation 12 wk before the beginning of pregnancy. The lack of supplementation with FA, as well as the incorrect adherence to the existing FA supplementation protocol, is attributable to different social (e.g., immigration, place of residence, job employment) and cultural (e.g., educational level, knowledge about FA) factors, the relatively poor planning of pregnancies, and the lack of information concerning the need for FA supplementation in the prepregnancy period. Finally, GPs and gynecologists are the only sources of information on the importance of FA supplementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The adherence of women to FA supplementation before pregnancy is still insufficient. The GP role in preconception care, and the promotion of FA supplementation, needs to be emphasized and further promoted.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Department of Experimental Medicine - Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Italian Society of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyles, Rome, Italy.

Italian Society of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyles, Rome, Italy.

Department of Experimental Medicine - Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Department of Experimental Medicine - Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Department of Experimental Medicine - Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Department of Experimental Medicine - Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Department of Experimental Medicine - Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzomaria.donini@uniroma1.it.

Italian Society of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle Research Group

Italian Society of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyles, Rome, Italy.

MeSH

Cross-Sectional StudiesDietary SupplementsFemaleFolic AcidGeneral PracticeHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansItalyPregnancy

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32717582

Citation

Gazzino, Roberta, et al. "Folic Acid Supplementation in Italian Women During Pregnancy: a Cross-sectional Study Conducted in General Practice." Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), vol. 79-80, 2020, p. 110886.

Gazzino R, Marrocco W, D'Ingianna AP, et al. Folic acid supplementation in Italian women during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study conducted in general practice. Nutrition. 2020;79-80:110886.

Gazzino, R., Marrocco, W., D'Ingianna, A. P., Poggiogalle, E., Giusti, A. M., Pinto, A., Lenzi, A., & Donini, L. M. (2020). Folic acid supplementation in Italian women during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study conducted in general practice. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 79-80, 110886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2020.110886

Gazzino R, et al. Folic Acid Supplementation in Italian Women During Pregnancy: a Cross-sectional Study Conducted in General Practice. Nutrition. 2020 Nov - Dec;79-80:110886. PubMed PMID: 32717582.

* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case

TY - JOUR T1 - Folic acid supplementation in Italian women during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study conducted in general practice. AU - Gazzino,Roberta, AU - Marrocco,Walter, AU - D'Ingianna,Antonio Pio, AU - Poggiogalle,Eleonora, AU - Giusti,Anna Maria, AU - Pinto,Alessandro, AU - Lenzi,Andrea, AU - Donini,Lorenzo M, AU - ,, Y1 - 2020/06/04/ PY - 2019/12/24/received PY - 2020/05/12/revised PY - 2020/05/16/accepted PY - 2020/7/28/pubmed PY - 2021/6/24/medline PY - 2020/7/28/entrez KW - Folic acid supplementation KW - General practice KW - Neural tube defects KW - Pregnancy SP - 110886 EP - 110886 JF - Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) JO - Nutrition VL - 79-80 N2 - OBJECTIVES: The association between folate insufficiency and congenital neural tube defects has been extensively investigated since the 1990s. To reach an adequate intake of folic acid (FA), improving folate status through periconceptional supplementation with FA, promotion of the consumption of foods rich in natural folates, and appropriate use of fortified foods is recommended. The aim of the present study was to investigate the supplementation of FA in a sample of pregnant women referred to general practice services in Italy, with a focus on the quality of information received by fertile women. METHODS: Participants were recruited from patients admitted to 44 general practice offices enrolled in the Italian Society of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle study and located in Italy throughout the national territory. A questionnaire for the evaluation of FA supplementation was administered by the general practitioners (GPs). The interviewed subjects were asked to provide information about pregnancy characteristics, nutritional habits, lifestyle and risk factors, information sources, and knowledge about FA. RESULTS: This study included 328 participants. The percentage of women who did not take any FA supplements was 16.8%, and 66.4% of women started FA supplementation only after finding out they were pregnant. Only 16.8% of women started FA supplementation 12 wk before the beginning of pregnancy. The lack of supplementation with FA, as well as the incorrect adherence to the existing FA supplementation protocol, is attributable to different social (e.g., immigration, place of residence, job employment) and cultural (e.g., educational level, knowledge about FA) factors, the relatively poor planning of pregnancies, and the lack of information concerning the need for FA supplementation in the prepregnancy period. Finally, GPs and gynecologists are the only sources of information on the importance of FA supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The adherence of women to FA supplementation before pregnancy is still insufficient. The GP role in preconception care, and the promotion of FA supplementation, needs to be emphasized and further promoted. SN - 1873-1244 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32717582/Folic_acid_supplementation_in_Italian_women_during_pregnancy:_A_cross_sectional_study_conducted_in_general_practice_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -