title: [Supplementation with folic acid before and during pregnancy].
abstract: Since 1995, supplementation of folic acid (400 microg/d) for prevention of neural tube defects is recommended for women during or before pregnancy by the German Society of Nutrition. Nevertheless, most women in childbearing age and also other people in the German population have no adequate supply with folic acid. Furthermore, genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene can elevate the risk of congenital defects, particularly in children of mothers with low levels of folic acid. To allow a sufficient supply with folic acid for persons with reduced enzymatic activity of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, a supplementation with a combination of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate can be performed.
authors.affiliation: tsaussele@deutscher-apothekerverlag.de
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saussele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013763:Tetrahydrofolates; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid; C005984:5-methyltetrahydrofolate