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Weekly Administration of Folic Acid and Epidemiology of Neural Tube Defects

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Abstract

Objective: In 1999, a folic acid campaign for prevention of neural tube defects was started in Nuevo León, México, with the recommendation of taking a 5000 -mcg tablet of folic acid per week. The purpose of this study was to compare the epidemiology of neural tube defects after four years of the campaign. Methods: Cases of anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele (ICD Q00, Q01, Q05, 10th Ed.) from public and private hospitals were registered by immediate notification, death certificates, and fetal death registries. Comparisons of neural tube defects rates, phenotype distribution of cases, and sex ratios, registered before and after the folic acid campaign, were done using the Student’s t Test and Chi square test. Results: There was a 50% reduction in the incidence of anencephaly and spina bifida cases from 93 in 1999 (1.04×1000) to 46 in the year 2003 (0.56×1000) (p < 0.001). Spina bifida cases declined up to 70% in 2002 and anencephaly cases up to 50% in 2003. In 1999, overall, the ratio (females: males) was 0.66 with female excess; the sex ratio was similar for anencephaly and spina bifida cases. In the year 2000, female cases showed a significant reduction for both spina bifida and anencephaly (75% and 56% respectively); the sex ratio was 0.57 with a greater male excess for both phenotypes. Conclusions: Weekly administration of 5000 mcg of folic acid reduces the incidence of neural tube defects 50%, primarily spina bifida, with a higher reduction of female cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Ave. Madero y Aguirre Pequeño, Col Mitras Centro, Monterrey, N.L., 64460, México

    Laura E. Martínez de Villarreal

  2. Servicios de Salud de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

    Patricia Arredondo

  3. Hospital Regional # 23 I.M.S.S., Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

    Ricardo Hernández

  4. Departamento de Endocrinología, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José E. González”, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

    Jesús Z. Villarreal

Authors
  1. Laura E. Martínez de Villarreal
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  2. Patricia Arredondo
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  3. Ricardo Hernández
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  4. Jesús Z. Villarreal
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Correspondence to Laura E. Martínez de Villarreal.

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Martínez de Villarreal, L.E., Arredondo, P., Hernández, R. et al. Weekly Administration of Folic Acid and Epidemiology of Neural Tube Defects. Matern Child Health J 10, 397–401 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-006-0082-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-006-0082-2

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