Ho J J
Perak College of Medicine, Greentown, Ipoh, Perak.
Med J Malaysia. 2004 Mar;59(1):94-9.
There is good evidence that folic acid is safe and efficacious for reducing neural tube defect (NTD). All women capable of becoming pregnant should take 400 microgram daily. This can be given in the form of a daily vitamin supplement, by food fortification, or by increasing natural dietary folates. Compulsory grain fortification has been shown to reduce NTD in a population but supplementation and dietary advice have not. Malaysia should work towards a programme of grain fortification and use alternative strategies to reach sections of the population that would not be covered but several research questions need to be answered before a programme could be implemented in Malaysia.
有充分证据表明叶酸对于降低神经管缺陷（NTD）是安全有效的。所有有怀孕能力的女性都应每日服用400微克叶酸。这可以通过每日服用维生素补充剂、食品强化或增加天然膳食叶酸的方式来实现。强制谷物强化已被证明可降低人群中的神经管缺陷，但补充剂和膳食建议却未能达到这一效果。马来西亚应努力推行谷物强化计划，并采用其他策略来覆盖那些无法受益于该计划的人群，但在马来西亚实施该计划之前，还需要回答几个研究问题。
