Neural tube defects persist despite fortification

Preventing neural tube defects by folic acid fortification of flour.

A year-long prospective study conducted in the obstetrical service of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi for the year 2002, observed 9892 deliveries (312 still-born). Amongst these, there were 34 births with various NTDs of whom there were 16 live births. Anencephaly was the commonest of the neural abnormalities (19 cases with only 3 live births) followed by 11 myelomeningocoele...

Neural tube defects

lower limbs and other major organ malformations.4 Complex dysraphic states due to aberrant integration of the notochord include split cord malformation (SCM) or diastematomyelia: a congenital spinal anomaly in which there is longitudinal splitting of the spinal cord.5,6 Causes of NTDs are multifactorial and defects in several different genes can underlie the genetic basis of this disease.1 Howe...

Neural-tube defects.

Neural tube defects.

The purpose of this article is to describe the etiology of neural tube defects (NTDs) and the role of folic acid in their prevention. NTDs are all too common and devastating outcomes of many pregnancies. The brain and spinal cord malformations that develop during gestation in the NTD-affected pregnancies are expressed through various anomalies. Estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and P...

The Costa Rican experience: reduction of neural tube defects following food fortification programs.

Fortification of wheat flour in 1997 and corn flour in 1999 with folic acid among other micronutrients was implemented in Costa Rica by means of two decrees, resulting in an effective public health impact. A prevalence of 25% of folic acid serum levels deficiency detected in fertile women in 1996 decreased 87% in urban areas two years later, whereas in rural areas diminished by 63%. In addition...