Diet, particularly vitamin deficiency, is associated with the risk of birth defects. The aim of this
review paper is to show the characteristics of common and severe neural-tube defects …

Periconceptional use of folic acid alone or in multivitamin supplements is effective for the
primary prevention of neural-tube defects. The Hungarian randomized and two-cohort …

The pioneering studies of Smithells et al. showed the reduction of recurrent neural-tube
defects (NTD) after periconceptional folic acid-containing multivitamin supplementation. The …

Abstract Background/Aims: To review the main results of intervention trials which showed
the efficacy of periconceptional folic acid-containing multivitamin and folic acid …

Randomized trials, supported by many observational studies, have shown that
periconceptional use of folic acid, alone or in multivitamin supplements, is effective for the …

Women planning a pregnancy and pregnant women in the first trimester are recommended
to use folate-containing supplements in order to prevent neural tube defects. The prevention …

Neural-tube defects (NTDs) are common and serious congenital abnormalities of the central
nervous system. Although some cases of NTDs are induced by hyperhomocysteinaemia …

Abstract Objective Previous Hungarian intervention trials have shown an association
between periconceptional folic-acid-containing multivitamin supplementation and …

With 4 mg folic acid daily, it may take 20 weeks to reach red-blood-cell folate levels between
1050 and 1340 nmol/L, optimal for reduction of the neural tube defect risk. Therefore, folic …

Some countries have introduced mandatory folic acid fortification, whereas others support
periconceptional supplementation of women in childbearing age. Several European …