PPS Policy Statement - Role Of Folic Acid

Question 1

The neural tube usually closes within the ______.

Answer 1

First 21 to 28 days of life.

Question 2

Neural tube defect mild form to severe forms?

Answer 2

Spina bifida Alerta to extremely severe forms anencephaly and rachischisis.

Question 3

_____With hydrocephalus and varying depress of paralysis and disability

_____Dies before or shortly after birth

Answer 3

Spina bifida

Anencephaly

Question 4

Incidence of NTD

Answer 4

• ## incidence of 1-5 per 1000 births with marked geographic, ethnic and temporal variations.

Question 5

• is the most common major CNS malformation in the western world,
• freq in females than in males
• account to 30% NTD
• recurrence in families is possible, 35%

Answer 5

-anencephaly

-

Question 6

Etiology of NTD?

Answer 6

Multifactorial, highlighting the role of increasing maternal folate levels in prevention of NTD.
- 50-70% of these birth defects could be prevented with adequate folic acid intake.

Question 7

Folic acid prevents/protective against?

Answer 7

• birth defect NTD
• ASD/VSD
• Limb deformities
• urologic anomalies
• omphalocele
• Cleft lip/or cleft palate

Question 8

Folate levels can be determined using ______?

Reflective of long term tissue stores

Answer 8

RBC folate levels

Question 9

Folate level, more reflective of short - term dietary intake?

Answer 9

Serum or plasma folate levels

Question 10

Strategies to achieve adequate levels of folic acid?

Answer 10

• inc intake of folate-rich food
• dietary folic acid supplementation
• folic acid fortification of food

Question 11

• Food folate absorbed in body: ____%
• folic acid fortified food: _____%
• folic acid vitamin supplement: ____%

Answer 11

• 50%
• 85%
• 100%

Question 12

All women of reproductive age should take _____ of folic acid daily in addition to eating a healthy, folate-rich diet to reduce the risk of serious NTD and other congenital anomalies.

Answer 12

0.4mg (400ug)

Question 13

Women who are planning a pregnancy should eat a healthy, folate-rich diet as well as take ________ of folic acid daily at least ________ prior to conception.

Answer 13

• 0.4mg (400ug)

- at least 1month prior

Question 14

Women with previous NTD-affected pregnancies who are planning another pregnancy should take _______ of folic acid daily at least ________ prior t0 conception until the ______ of pregnancy.

Answer 14

• 4.0mg (4000ug)
• at least 1month prior
• first 3 months of pregnancy

Question 15

Physicians should d caution women regarding the use of certain medication.drugs that can interfere with folate utilization like?

Answer 15

Valproic acid