Arch Pediatr. 1995 Feb;2(2):173-81.
Epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between maternal folic acid status and the incidence of neural tube defects, prematurity, abortions. Based on the actual data, the Committee of Nutrition recommends that all women at age of procreation should be encouraged to regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables in order to increase their reserve of folic acid, and that pregnant and lactating women should be supplemented with a daily dose of 200 micrograms of folic acid. In addition, the Committee is in favour of a folacin enrichment of some food which would allow to cover the needs of pregnant and lactating women. Those women who gave birth to a child with neural tube defects must be informed of the high risk of recurrence and be encouraged to take a treatment of 4 mg/day of folic acid, ideally starting one month before the beginning of pregnancy and to be maintained during the first 3 months.
