title: Neural tube defects in Jamaica following Hurricane Gilbert.
abstract: An increased incidence of obvious live-birth neural tube defects (i.e., spina bifida cystica and encephalocele) occurred in Jamaica 11 to 18 months after Hurricane Gilbert. The conceptions of the affected babies coincided with a rise in megaloblastic change in sickle cell patients, suggesting a wide-spread drop in dietary folate intake. A detailed history was taken from each of the 17 affected mothers (case subjects) and 51 unaffected mothers (matched control subjects). The case subjects reported a significantly lower mean intake of dietary folate in the periconceptional period (154 micrograms/day) than did the control subjects (254 micrograms/day). The temporary increase in neural tube defects was associated with a diet comparatively low in folate in the periconceptional period, suggesting the dietary level of folate that fails to protect against neural tube defects under natural conditions.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Jamaica.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004190:Disasters; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016137:Spina Bifida Cystica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid