Women in Ireland are being urged to start taking folic acid

Studies of women attending the Coombe women’s hospital have shown that as few as 25% have taken folic acid before conception. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

Doctors have made the appeal in light of a rise in neural tube defects among babies

Call for public information campaign after study reveals 27% rise in neural tube defects

Women in Ireland are being urged to start taking folic acid.

Doctors have made the appeal in light of a rise in neural tube defects among babies born in this country.

The call has been made in response to research which shows a rise in the incidence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, which are largely preventable through the intake of folic acid before and after conception.

Studies at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin show just one in four mothers were taking folic acid - which can prevent the problems - before they conceived.

A third of pregnancies in Ireland are unplanned, so experts say anyone who could potentially get pregnant, needs to be taking the supplement.

UCD Professor of Obstetrics Michael Turner spoke to Pat Kenny today about the issue and he says it's clear that folic acid is vital in the early days of pregnancy.

Another recently published study has revealed a decline in the number of food products fortified with folic acid. This means women are less likely to consume the vitamin passively in their diet.

“The message for women is that you shouldn’t wait until you are pregnant to take folic acid. Any woman who could get pregnant should be taking it.”

Prof Turner said austerity might be partly to blame, as people had less money for discretionary spending on higher-quality food products fortified with folic acid. The incidence of birth defects has also been found to be higher outside Dublin, as it is thought people in the capital spend more money on food.

UCD research fellow and obstetrician Aoife McKeating said low levels of folic acid supplementation were often found with unplanned pregnancies. “The risk of unplanned pregnancy is highest among women under the age of 20, who are unemployed or have a history of depression or domestic violence.”

Obese women, who are more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy, are advised to take a higher dose of folic acid. Just 2 per cent of obese patients in the Coombe were doing so.

Prof Turner’s advice is that all women who could potentially become pregnant, whether trying to conceive or not, should consider taking a folic acid supplement. One in three pregnancies was unplanned, he said. - irishtimes