Preventing birth defects, saving lives, and promoting health equity: an urgent call to action for universal mandatory food fortification with folic acid.

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Author(s): Kancherla V;Kancherla V; Botto LD; Botto LD; Rowe LA; Rowe LA; Shlobin NA; Shlobin NA; Caceres A; Caceres A; Arynchyna-Smith A; Arynchyna-Smith A; Zimmerman K; Zimmerman K; Blount J; Blount J; Kibruyisfaw Z; Kibruyisfaw Z; Ghotme KA; Ghotme KA; Ghotme KA; Karmarkar S; Karmarkar S; Fieggen G; Fieggen G; Roozen S; Roozen S; Oakley GP Jr; Oakley GP Jr; Rosseau G; Rosseau G; Berry RJ; Berry RJ
Source:
The Lancet. Global health [Lancet Glob Health] 2022 Jul; Vol. 10 (7), pp. e1053-e1057. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 May 23.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Review
Language:
English

Additional Information
- Source:
  Publisher: Elsevier Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101613665 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2214-109X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 2214109X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Lancet Glob Health Subsets: MEDLINE
- Publication Information:
  Original Publication: [England] : Elsevier Ltd. 2013-
- Subject Terms:
  Anencephaly*/prevention & control ; Health Equity* ; Spinal Dysraphism*/prevention & control; Child ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Food, Fortified ; Humans ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence
- Abstract:
  July 20, 2021 marked the 30th anniversary of the publication of the landmark trial by the British Medical Research Council showing unequivocally that maternal intake of folic acid (vitamin B 9 ) starting before pregnancy prevents most cases of infant spina bifida and anencephaly-two major neural tube defects that are severe, disabling, and often fatal. Mandatory food fortification with folic acid is a safe, cost-effective, and sustainable intervention to prevent spina bifida and anencephaly. Yet few countries implement fortification with folic acid; only a quarter of all preventable spina bifida and anencephaly cases worldwide are currently avoided by food fortification. We summarise scientific evidence supporting immediate, mandatory fortification with folic acid to prevent the development of spina bifida and anencephaly. We make an urgent call to action for the World Health Assembly to pass a resolution for universal mandatory folic acid fortification. Such a resolution could accelerate the slow pace of spina bifida and anencephaly prevention globally, and will assist countries to reach their 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on child mortality and health equity. The cost of inaction is profound, and disproportionately impacts susceptible populations in low-income and middle-income countries.
  Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests.
  (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Comments:
  Comment in: Lancet Glob Health. 2022 Oct;10(10):e1389. (PMID: 36113522)
  Comment in: Lancet Glob Health. 2022 Oct;10(10):e1390. (PMID: 36113523)
  Comment in: Lancet Glob Health. 2022 Oct;10(10):e1391-e1392. (PMID: 36113524)
  Comment in: Lancet Glob Health. 2022 Oct;10(10):e1393. (PMID: 36113525)
- Accession Number:
  935E97BOY8 (Folic Acid)
- Publication Date:
  Date Created: 20220526 Date Completed: 20220621 Latest Revision: 20220921
- Publication Date:
  20240105
- Accession Number:
  10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00213-3
- Accession Number:
  35617975

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