Use of folic acid and delivery outcome: a prospective registry study

Bengt Källén, PO Olausson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Periconceptional use of folic acid is thought to reduce the risk for both neural tube defects and other congenital malformations. Most published data were obtained retrospectively. We used the Swedish Medical Birth Registry to study congenital malformations in infants born of women who reported the use of folic acid in early pregnancy (of which 70% probably used it also preconceptionally) and compared them with population rates. We divided the material according to two major confounders: subfertility problems and use of antiepileptic drugs. We found no protective effect of folic acid tablet use on the rate of congenital malformations but data on neural tube defects were scarce. Our results support the scepticism recently expressed in the literature on the beneficial effect of folic acid in preventing congenital malformations, especially of a non-neural tube defect type.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)327-332
JournalReproductive Toxicology
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine

Free keywords

  • orofacial clefts
  • hypospadias
  • congenital malformations
  • neural tube defects
  • folic acid
  • prophylaxis
  • anal atresia
  • cardiac defects

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