title: Rates of selected birth defects in relation to folic acid fortification, Hawaii, 1986-2002.
abstract: Because of studies suggesting that folic acid use reduces risk of various birth defects, the Unites States fortified enriched cereal grains with folic acid in 1998. To determine whether this fortification reduced rates for birth defects in Hawaii, rates were calculated before and after fortification. Of the 19 birth defects categories studied, the rates for 16 were lower after fortification.
authors.affiliation: Hawaii Birth Defects Program, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-5157, USA.
authors.forename: Mathias B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Ruth D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Merz
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid