PREVENTION OF SPINA BIFIDA BY FOLIC ACID
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46793/PP180218013CKeywords:
Folic acid, Spina bifida, preventionAbstract
Introduction: Folic acid is necessary for cell functioning and normal development of new cells, for activation of some amino acids, for erythropoiesis. It is also important for the normal development of the neural tube. Therefore, it is very important in the development of the fetus. Prenatal use of folic acid, in primary and secondary prevention of defects of the neural tube, has been known for several decades. The paper presents well known evidence of the effect of folic acid on the prevention of defects in the neural tube, but also on the correct supplementation in pregnancy, and the possibility of the effect of folic acid supplementation on other outcomes of pregnancy.
Methodology: The survey was conducted in the Municipality of Zajecar. The incidence of children with defective neural tube in the period from 1987-2015 is shown. Data were obtained from Registery for congenital anomalies. Diagnosis in all children is postnatal. During the analysed period there was 22 145 born children, and appart of that number there was 13 children with defective nerual tube, which means 0,587/1000 live newborns. Mothers of affected children have nt been on folic acid supplementation. After 2012. Folic acid was introduced during pregnancy, until 2015 no defective nerual tube in newborns at all.
Results: The results of our retrospecitve analyses show that the number of children with Spina bifida decreased when folic acid was introduced as supplementatuion before and during the pregnancy..
Conclusion: Folic Acid is important in preventing defects in the neural tube.
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