For three decades, the US Public Health Service has recommended that all persons capable
of becoming pregnant consume 400 μg/day of folic acid (FA) to prevent neural tube defects …

Background. Birth defects remain a significant source of worldwide morbidity and mortality.
Strong scientific evidence shows that folic acid fortification of a region's food supply leads to …

Micronutrients are essential to sustain life and for optimal physiological function.
Widespread global micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) exist, with pregnant women and their …

Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth features the first-ever estimates
of preterm birth rates by country and is authored by a broad group of 45 international multi …

Periconceptional intake of folic acid is known to reduce a woman's risk of having an infant
affected by a neural tube birth defect (NTD). National programs to mandate fortification of …

Introduction There is increasingly a double burden of under-nutrition and obesity in women
of reproductive age. Preconception underweight or overweight, short stature and …

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common complex congenital malformations resulting from
failure of the neural tube closure during embryogenesis. It is established that folic acid …

Abstract Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) remain an important, preventable cause of
mortality and morbidity. High-income countries have reported large reductions in NTDs …

Background In 1998, folic acid fortification of a large variety of cereal products became
mandatory in Canada, a country where the prevalence of neural-tube defects was …

Spina bifida results from failure of fusion of the caudal neural tube, and is one of the most
common malformations of human structure. The causes of this disorder are heterogeneous …