Folate intake and the primary prevention of non-neural birth defects.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether maternal periconceptional folate intake is associated with a reduction in selected non-neural birth defects in Western Australia (WA).


METHODS
Case-control study of folate intake in women whose infants had orofacial clefts (62); congenital heart defects (151); urinary tract defects (117); limb reduction defects (26); or other major birth defects (119); and 578 control women.


RESULTS
Neither folic acid supplements nor dietary folate intake in women not using supplements was significantly associated with a reduction in risk in any of the case groups. In contrast to neural tube defects, WA population data for orofacial clefts, heart defects, limb reduction defects and urinary tract defects showed no fall in prevalence since the introduction of folate promotion and voluntary food fortification.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides no evidence of folate being an important factor in the prevention of birth defects other than neural tube defects.
Bower
Carol
C
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, West Perth. carolb@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Miller
Margaret
M
Payne
Jan
J
Serna
Peta
P
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000002:abnormalities; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
D005492:Folic Acid