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Folate and folic acid in the periconceptional period: recommendations from official health organizations in 36 countries worldwide and WHO

dc.contributor.authorGomes, Sandra
dc.contributor.authorLopes, Carla
dc.contributor.authorPinto, Elisabete
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-21T16:58:05Z
dc.date.available2016-04-21T16:58:05Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractObjective: To summarize the recommendations on folate intake and folic acid supplementation and fortification in the periconceptional period, aimed at prevention of neural tube defects (NTD), provided by official health organizations in different countries worldwide and WHO. Design: Information on recommendations for folate and folic acid intake in the periconceptional period was gathered from the websites of official national health organizations of several countries worldwide and from the WHO website. Setting: WHO, selected developed countries and emerging economies, totalling thirty-six countries worldwide (some European, BRICS, G8, Asian Tiger/Asian Dragon and Australia). Results: Recommendations differ between countries, although the majority (69·4 %) recommend a healthy diet plus a folic acid supplement of 400 μg/d from preconception (4–12 weeks) until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy (8–12 weeks). The same recommendation is issued by the WHO. Dosages for women at high risk of NTD are up to 4–5 mg/d (for 41·7 % of studied countries). The recommended intake for folate is in the range of 300–400 μg/d for women of childbearing age and 500–600 μg/d for pregnant women in different countries and WHO. Five countries emphasize the importance of a healthy diet rendering supplementation needless. By contrast, five others advise a healthy diet and supplementation plus mandatory fortification. Only one mentions the importance of ensuring an adequate folate status and refers to checking with a health-care provider on the need for supplements. Conclusions: Different recommendations regarding folate and folic acid, seeking NTD prevention, are available worldwide; however, most countries and WHO focus on a healthy diet and folic acid supplementation of 400 μg/d periconceptionally.pt_PT
dc.identifier.citationGOMES, Sandra ; LOPES, Carla ; PINTO, Elisabete - Folate and folic acid in the periconceptional period: recommendations from official health organizations in 36 countries worldwide and WHO. Public Health Nutrition. ISSN 1368-9800. Vol. 19, n.º 1 (2016), p. 176-89pt_PT
dc.identifier.eid84927946647
dc.identifier.issn1368-9800
dc.identifier.pmid25877429
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/19951
dc.identifier.wos000372641600019
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherCambridge University Press
dc.subjectPericonceptional periodpt_PT
dc.subjectNeural tube defectspt_PT
dc.subjectFolatept_PT
dc.subjectFolic acidpt_PT
dc.subjectOfficial health organizations’ recommendationspt_PT
dc.titleFolate and folic acid in the periconceptional period: recommendations from official health organizations in 36 countries worldwide and WHOpt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.endPage189
oaire.citation.startPage176
oaire.citation.titlePublic Health Nutrition
oaire.citation.volume19
person.familyNameLopes
person.familyNamePinto
person.givenNameCarla
person.givenNameElisabete
person.identifier1122670
person.identifier.ciencia-id7516-365B-3D1F
person.identifier.ciencia-id7616-A133-6144
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-1524-852X
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-9028-8009
person.identifier.ridU-9327-2017
person.identifier.scopus-author-id7103222291
person.identifier.scopus-author-id35330288600
rcaap.rightsrestrictedAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isAuthorOfPublication95db092d-34a2-4fc4-a268-5c6dadbf5121
relation.isAuthorOfPublication34b3bd42-53c2-4f5c-8db0-ccd6f2834a74
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery34b3bd42-53c2-4f5c-8db0-ccd6f2834a74

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