Adding folate to the contraceptive pill: a new concept for the prevention of neural tube defects
Holzgreve, W.; Pietrzik, K.; Koletzko, B.; Eckmann-Scholz, C.
Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 25(9): 1529-1536
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1476-7058 PMID: 22272814 DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2011.648672Document Number: 534956
Although it is proven for a long time that folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional period can prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) effectively, all measures taken so far including food fortification and awareness campaigns so far had only limited success. Since more than 50% of the pregnant women in Europe get pregnant after they have used oral contraceptives (OCs) before, OCs are an ideal vehicle to increase not only the awareness for periconceptional folate application, but they can also help to bridge the gap between the recognition of a pregnancy and closure of the neural tube which is before day 26. In order to reach a truly protective folate level at the critical time period during pregnancy, now OCs are available which contain metafolin. The availability of this innovative type of OC will significantly reduce the number of NTDs.