Survey of total folate intake at conception and assessment of impact of fortification

Abstract

Background. In view of plans for dietary fortification with folic acid, there is a need to reassess the advice being given in primary care. Patients and professionals may assume that fortification will make preconceptional folic acid supplementation unnecessary, but this is unlikely to be correct.Aim. To calculate the intake of total folic acid and folate at conception and to estimate the impact of fortification on the incidence of neural tube defect (NTD) conceptions.Design. An in‐depth investigation of dietary folate intake of 18 women and a survey of preconception supplementation in a group of 130 women, including an assessment of the probable impact of mandatory fortification.Method. Dietary folate intake of six infertile women and 12 age‐matched fertile controls was assessed using a 7‐day weighed diet diary. Mean values for this group were used as an estimate of local dietary folate intake. Questionnaires about periconceptional intake of supplements that included folic acid in their formulation were ...