Spina bifida primary prevention

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:  Mohamadmostafa Jahansouz M.D.[2]

## Overview

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A protective effect of folate against the development of neural tube defects (NTDs), specifically, spina bifida, is now well recognized, having been established by a lot of clinical research studies over the past half-century. Effective measures for the primary prevention of spina bifida include: Not drinking alcohol, not smoking, not taking drugs, taking Folic Acid and taking oral daily folate for all pregnant women. Neural tube closure is completed 28 days (four weeks) from conception, and the preventive effect of folic acid is not effective after that period. So, folate supplementation should start at least 4 weeks before conception and it should continue until at least two months after conception. The recommended intakes of folate are 4 mg/d for those at high-risk pregnancies(by virtue of a previous NTD pregnancy outcome) and 0.4 mg/d for all others.

## Primary Prevention

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* A protective effect of folate against the development of neural tube defects (NTDs), specifically, spina bifida, is now well recognized, having been established by a lot of clinical research studies over the past half-century.[1]
* Effective measures for the primary prevention of spina bifida include:[2]
* Not drinking alcohol
* Not smoking
* Not taking drugs
* Taking Folic Acid
* Taking oral daily folate is recommended for all pregnant women.[1]
* Neural tube closure is completed 28 days (four weeks) from conception, and the preventive effect of folic acid is not effective after that period.[3]
* So, folate supplementation should start at least 4 weeks before conception and it should continue until at least two months after conception.[3]
* The recommended intakes of folate are 4 mg/d for those at high-risk pregnancies(by virtue of a previous NTD pregnancy outcome) and 0.4 mg/d for all others.[1]

## References

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pitkin RM (January 2007). "Folate and neural tube defects". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 85 (1): 285S–288S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.1.285S. PMID 17209211.
2. ↑ Srb V, Kubzová E (1987). "[Comparison of the effects of 1st and 3d generation platinum cytostatics on the chromosomes of lymphocytes in human peripheral blood in vitro]". Sb Ved Pr Lek Fak Karlovy Univerzity Hradci Kralove Suppl (in Czech). 30 (4): 475–83. PMID 3504607.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alt TH (March 1988). "Aids to scalp reduction surgery". J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 14 (3): 309–15. PMID 3279093.

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