An exceptionally low percentage of Thai expectant mothers and medical personnel with folic acid knowledge and peri-conceptional consumption urges an urgent education program and/or food fortification

References

• Abdulrazzaq YM, Al-Gazali LI, Bener A, Hossein M, Verghese M, Dawodu A, Padmanabhan R. Folic acid awareness and intake survey in the United Arab Emirates. Reprod Toxicol 2003; 17: 171–176
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Alwan A, Modell B. Recommendations for introducing genetics services in developing countries. Nat Rev Genet 2003; 4: 61–68
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Amitai Y, Fisher N, Haringman M, Meiraz H, Baram N, Leventhal A. Increased awareness, knowledge and utilization of preconceptional folic acid in Israel following a national campaign. Prev Med 2004; 39: 731–737
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bener A, Al Maadid MG, Al-Bast DA, Al-Marri S. Maternal knowledge, attitude and practice on folic acid intake among Arabian Qatari women. Reprod Toxicol 2006; 21: 21–25
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Berry RJ, Li Z, Erickson JD, Li S, Moore CA, Wang H, Mulinare J, Zhao P, Wong LY, Gindler J, et al. Prevention of neural-tube defects with folic acid in China. China–U.S. Collaborative Project for Neural Tube Defect Prevention. N Engl J Med 1999; 341: 1485–1490
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Botto LD, Olney RS, Erickson JD. Vitamin supplements and the risk for congenital anomalies other than neural tube defects. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 2004; 125: 12–21
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Busby A, Abramsky L, Dolk H, Armstrong B, Addor MC, Anneren G, Armstrong N, Baguette A, Barisic I, Berghold A, et al. Preventing neural tube defects in Europe: a missed opportunity. Reprod Toxicol 2005; 20: 393–402
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Czeizel AE, Puho E. 2005. Maternal use of nutritional supplements during the first month of pregnancy and decreased risk of Down's syndrome: case–control study. Nutrition 21:698–704; discussion 774.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Czeizel AE, Timar L, Sarkozi A. Dose-dependent effect of folic acid on the prevention of orofacial clefts. Pediatrics 1999; 104: e66
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Daltveit AK, Vollset SE, Lande B, Oien H. Changes in knowledge and attitudes of folate, and use of dietary supplements among women of reproductive age in Norway 1998–2000. Scand J Public Health 2004; 32: 264–271
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hernandez-Diaz S, Werler MM, Walker AM, Mitchell AA. Folic acid antagonists during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1608–1614
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Knudsen VK, Orozova-Bekkevold I, Rasmussen LB, Mikkelsen TB, Michaelsen KF, Olsen SF. Low compliance with recommendations on folic acid use in relation to pregnancy: is there a need for fortification?. Public Health Nutr 2004; 7: 843–850
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marques-de-Faria AP, Ferraz VE, Acosta AX, Brunoni D. Clinical genetics in developing countries: the case of Brazil. Community Genet 2004; 7: 95–105
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Morin VI, Mondor M, Wilson RD. Knowledge on periconceptional use of folic acid in women of British Columbia. Fetal Diagn Ther 2001; 16: 111–115
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Oleary M, Donnell RM, Johnson H. Folic acid and prevention of neural tube defects in 2000 improved awareness—low peri-conceptional uptake. Ir Med J 2001; 94: 180–181
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Perlow JH. Comparative use and knowledge of preconceptional folic acid among Spanish- and English-speaking patient populations in Phoenix and Yuma, Arizona. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001; 184: 1263–1266
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rasmussen LB, Andersen NL, Andersson G, Lange AP, Rasmussen K, Skak-Iversen L, Skovby F, Ovesen L. Folate and neural tube defects. Recommendations from a Danish working group. Dan Med Bull 1998; 45: 213–217
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Sen S, Manzoor A, Deviasumathy M, Newton C. Maternal knowledge, attitude and practice regarding folic acid intake during the periconceptional period. Public Health Nutr 2001; 4: 909–912
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Shotelersuk V, Ittiwut C, Siriwan P, Angspatt A. Maternal 677CT/1298AC genotype of the MTHFR gene as a risk factor for cleft lip. J Med Genet 2003; 40: e64
   Google Scholar
• Unusan N. Assessment of Turkish women's knowledge concerning folic acid and prevention of birth defects. Public Health Nutr 2004; 7: 851–855
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Public Health Service, US. Recommendations for the use of folic acid to reduce the number of cases of spina bifida and other neural tube defects. MMWR Recomm Rep 1992; 41: 1–7
   Google Scholar
• Van Allen MI, Fraser FC, Dallaire L, Allanson J, McLeod DR, Andermann E, Friedman JM. Recommendations on the use of folic acid supplementation to prevent the recurrence of neural tube defects. Clinical Teratology Committee, Canadian College of Medical Geneticists. CMAJ 1993; 149: 1239–1243
   Google Scholar
• van Rooij IA, Ocke MC, Straatman H, Zielhuis GA, Merkus HM, Steegers-Theunissen RP. Periconceptional folate intake by supplement and food reduces the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate. Prev Med 2004; 39: 689–694
   Google Scholar