The gap that exists between research and the dissemination and implementation of research findings has been well established. Food fortification, one of the most cost-effective means of addressing micronutrient malnutrition, is no exception. With decades of implementation experience, there is need to strengthen mechanisms that effectively broadcast proven strategies to promote the successful im...

Spina bifida and anencephaly, the common form of neural tube defects, affect approximately 300 000 newborns each year worldwide. The effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in preventing their occurrence or recurrence has been unambiguous since 1991. In general, the prevalence of these abnormalities has decreased in the past 20 to 30 years because of periconceptional folate supplementation,...

Folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid) is the stable, fully oxidized form of folate which is used in food fortification and supplements. Keen interest has been generated in folic acid due to its suggested role in prevention of various disorders. Strong evidence from clinical trials indicates preventive effect of folic acid on both occurrence and recurrence of neural tube defects. It also plays a...

The Spanish market offers a significant number of folic acid (FA) voluntarily fortified foods. We analysed FA and (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid ((6S)-5-CH3-H4PteGlu) content in ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) (n=68) and cow's milk (n=25) by a previously validated affinity chromatography-HPLC method. Contribution to potential FA intakes for children aged 2-13years, was assessed using food consum...

This review article discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, prenatal screening, diagnosis, prevention potentials, and epidemiologic impact of neural tube defects (NTDs). The average incidence of NTDs is 1/1000 births, with a marked geographic variation. In the developed countries, the incidence of NTDs has fallen over recent decades. However, it still remains high in the less-developed countr...

The recent viewpoint by Kamien1 and letter by Gunasekera2 rightly highlight the benefits of folate fortification and the unlikely occurrence of masking pernicious anaemia. Food Standards Australia New Zealand recently submitted a proposal supporting the mandatory fortification of bread-making flour to increase folate intakes in women of child-bearing age, with the aim of reducing the risk of ch...

BACKGROUND In October 2003 South Africa embarked on a program of folic acid fortification of staple foods. We measured the change in prevalence of NTDs before and after fortification and assessed the cost benefit of this primary health care intervention. METHODS Since the beginning of 2002 an ecological study was conducted among 12 public hospitals in four provinces of South Africa. NTDs as w...