The Importance of Folic Acid in Pregnancy - Includes Recipes-By Merrion Ultrasound
Packed with valuable information about folic acid, with a superb introduction from a top lecturer & nutritionist, plus recipes.
Packed with valuable information about folic acid, with a superb introduction from a top lecturer & nutritionist, plus recipes.
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the irish<br />
context<br />
<strong>The</strong> Report <strong>of</strong> the National Committee on<br />
<strong>Folic</strong> <strong>Acid</strong> Food Fortification which was<br />
published by the Food Safety Authority <strong>of</strong><br />
Ireland showed that: (13) Ireland has one <strong>of</strong><br />
the highest <strong>in</strong>cidences <strong>of</strong> NTD’s <strong>in</strong> Europe.<br />
Every year between 49 and 93 Irish babies<br />
are affected each year, most commonly with<br />
sp<strong>in</strong>a bifida. Between 70%* <strong>of</strong> NTDs can be<br />
prevented by tak<strong>in</strong>g the recommended<br />
amount <strong>of</strong> folic acid – we have known this<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce 1991. *Other studies refer to 50% or<br />
between 50% and 70%<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> the more recent Irish studies show<br />
the follow<strong>in</strong>g (14): McGuire et al, 2010 85%<br />
took FA at some po<strong>in</strong>t dur<strong>in</strong>g the periconceptional<br />
period but only 28% took folic<br />
acid (FA) – antenatal and delivery records <strong>in</strong><br />
the Coombe Women and Infants University<br />
Hospital between 1 January 2000 and 31<br />
December 2007 Tarrant et al, 2011 88% <strong>of</strong><br />
women took FA dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy and 44% <strong>of</strong><br />
them took a supplement before<br />
conception/dur<strong>in</strong>g the 1st month <strong>of</strong><br />
pregnancy (n=450). McNulty et al, 2011 84%<br />
took FA dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy, but only 19%<br />
before pregnancy (n=296); ‘Red cell folate<br />
concentrations <strong>in</strong> women not comply<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
recommendations were suboptimal <strong>in</strong> relation<br />
to NTD risk’<br />
PAGE 06<br />
WWW.MERRIONFETALHEALTH.IE
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