Abstract
Folate deficiency has been associated with anemia and other adverse outcomes in pregnancy such as neural tube defects. The current recommendations for prevention of such outcomes are difficult to achieve through diet only, and folic acid supplementation and food fortification are feasible public health strategies. However, it is necessary to determine the usual diet and supplement use among women of reproductive age, including an accurate assessment of other dietary micronutrients. In addition to the beneficial effects observed in randomized clinical trials, health risks to the population have also been widely evaluated and discussed in the scientific community: for a minority to benefit from fortification programs, many are exposed to high folic acid intake levels.
Highlights
Folate deficiency has been associated with anemia and other adverse outcomes in pregnancy such as neural tube defects
Data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that women of reproductive age, along with infants younger than 2 years of age, are at their nutritionally most vulnerable stage in life 1
IoM: Institute of Medicine; WHO: World Health Organization. * In population groups where the prevalence of anemia is greater than 20% among women of reproductive age, weekly supplementation should be considered as a strategy for preventing iron deficiency, improving pre-pregnancy iron reserves and improving folate status in some women
Summary
Folate deficiency has been associated with anemia and other adverse outcomes in pregnancy such as neural tube defects. The present article discusses the importance of recommendations of folic acid in public health programmes for the prevention and control of two different outcomes, namely: anemia during pregnancy and neural tube closure defects.
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