Folic acid supplementation in pregnancy and prevention of fetal neural tube defects

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Folic acid deficiency in very early pregnancy significantly increases the risk for neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Due to very high demands for folic acid in pregnancy, adequate supply is not possible without dietary supplements. AIM OF THE STUDY. Evaluation of the frequency and adequacy of folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy among women from the Warsaw region of Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study was conducted among 100 pregnant women using direct interviewing. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between selected parameters and folic acid supplementation. RESULTS. Folic acid before pregnancy was supplemented by 42% of the respondents. In pregnancy, the number almost doubled (83%), but most women did not start the supplementation until 5-6 weeks of gestation. Before pregnancy, almost all subjects used single folic acid preparations, whereas during pregnancy they used vitaminmineral preparations for expectant women. CONCLUSIONS. The realization of the Primary Prevention Program of Neural Tube Defects leaves much to be desired. Over half of the women do not supplement folic acid before conception, and the supply in pregnancy is initiated too late to meet the assumptions of the prevention program.

Assessment of Food Supplement Consumption in Polish Population of Adults

“…Food supplements were more often used by pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant (89 and 56%, respectively) (34). Frequent food supplement consumption was also observed in another study in the group of women during pregnancy and women becoming pregnant (82 and 41%, respectively) (35). In our study pregnant women were not included.…”

“…Data on food supplement use in Poland vary depending on the group. Surveys of the representative population for the country: from 2000 (29) and described in this manuscript from 2019-2020 showed a lower proportion of supplement users than surveys of target groups (31)(32)(33)(34)(35). However, the differences in data may be due to the fact that some authors could include OTC drugs containing vitamins and minerals into supplements.…”

“…Taking into account the median, the amount of vitamin D in men's diets from supplements was much lower than AI. Certain population groups in Poland may use food supplements much more often (31)(32)(33)(34)(35). For example, in the years 2011-2012, dietary intake studies were carried out, taking into account food supplement use in Warsaw population aged 20-74 years.…”

“…Certain population groups in Poland may use food supplements much more often ( 31 – 35 ). For example, in the years 2011–2012, dietary intake studies were carried out, taking into account food supplement use in Warsaw population aged 20–74 years.…”

Effectiveness of Folic Acid Supplementation Recommendations among Polish Female Students from the Podkarpackie Region

“…Another study shows that 42% of the surveyed women took folic acid before pregnancy. When pregnant, folic acid was supplemented by 83% of women, of which 71% started as late as the fifth-sixth week of pregnancy and beyond [25]. Meanwhile, a survey among female non-medical students (N = 325) showed that in 2008, 35.3% of them were aware of the importance of periconceptional folic acid supplementation, and in 2013, the figure reached 41.1% [26].…”