Prevention of neural tube defects by the fortification of flour with folic acid: a population-based retrospective study in Brazil

• DOI: 10.2471/blt.14.151365
• Publication Date: 2016-01-05T08:35:33Z
• Authors: Leonor Maria Pach...; Roberto Carlos Re...; Juan Jose Cortez-...; Mauro Niskier San...; Humberto Gabriel ...
• Keywords: Folic acid supplementation

Objective To determine if the fortification of wheat and maize flours with iron folic acid -which became mandatory in Brazil from June 2004 -is effective prevention neural tube defects.Methods Using data national information systems on births central, south-eastern southern Brazil, we determined prevalence defects among live stillbirths a pre-fortification period -i.e.2001-2004 -and post-fortification -i.e.2005-2014.We distinguished between anencephaly, encephalocele, meningocele, myelomeningocele other forms spina bifida.Findings There were 8554 for 17 925 729 notified 2001 2014.For same period, 2673 reported 194 858 stillbirths.The overall fell 0.79 per 1000 to 0.55 (prevalence ratio, PR: 1.43; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.38-1.50).For stillbirths, 17.74 11.70 post-fortification.The corresponding values 0.57 0.44, respectively.Conclusion The introduction flour was followed by significant reduction our study area.