Folic acid deficiency and neural tube defects: the awareness dilemma

Abstract

One of the most common vitamin deficiencies among childbearing-aged women is folic acid deficiency. Folic acid deficiency is a leading cause of neural tube defects (NTDs) such as anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele, which represents a major cause of serious disabilities and mortality among the infant population. Several studies showed that up to 50% of NTDs cases can be prevented by using folic acid containing supplement. Hence, planned pregnancy and awareness of mother toward this preventable method, plays a crucial role in decreasing NTDs burden. In this mini-review, we explore the prevalence and awareness of folic acid supplementation among childbearing women in different countries around the world, especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs), as well as, reveal the importance of food fortification with folic acid on NTDs burden. The overall awareness about the role of folic acid supplements in prevention of NTDs is low globally, especially in LMICs. Furthermore, compliance of folic acid supplements among childbearing-aged women during periconceptional period is also low. In summary, the findings indicate the importance of improving the awareness level of the importance of folic acid supplementation among women of childbearing age globally, especially in LMICs. It is suggested to promote the advantage of taking folic acid during the ideal time to reduce incidents of NTDs through proper education provided to women by health-care providers. Moreover, LMICs may have food fortification programs, nevertheless, the desirable effects have not achieved due to several limitations. Accordingly, improvement of these programs are required to decrease this dilemma and then to decrease NTDs burden globally, especially in LMICs.