scholarly journals Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 1127-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Zekovic ◽  
Dusanka Krajnovic ◽  
Marina Nikolic ◽  
Tatjana Stojkovic ◽  
Mirjana Gurinovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Counselling Practice ◽  
Pharmacy Technicians

Background/Aim. The protective effect of periconceptional folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and other adverse pregnancy outcomes has been scientifically confirmed. The present study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with regards to counselling women of reproductive age on adequate folate intake. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted among the nationwide stratified sample of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, practicing in both private and state-owned community pharmacies in Serbia. The detailed literature review, expert consultation and pre-testing were employed in the questionnaire development. The descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software ver. 22. Results. Among 730 survey participants, 96.6% correctly identified types of deformities that could be prevented by folic acid and 77.0% recognized recommended dosage for women capable of becoming pregnant. However, fewer were able to recognize the optimal timing for folic acid supplementation (61.1%) and the proper dose for the NTD recurrence prevention (42.9 %). While 43.2% of pharmacy technicians thought that it was not their responsibility to provide a counselling concerning the measures for the prevention of congenital anomalies, only 4.7% of licensed pharmacists and none of the interns were of that opinion (?2 = 198.287; df = 4; p < 0.001). The majority of respondents (54.7%) reported provision of informative consultation concerning folic acid once a week, or few times a month, while only 10 stated to do so on a daily basis. In addition, based on self-report, only 36.7% of participants communicates information and advice regarding adequate folate status at their own initiative, while the rest addresses this topic only on the patients request, i.e., reactively. Conclusion. Although participants acknowledged the importance of their role in preconception health promotion, our findings revealed certain knowledge gaps as well as dominantly reactive counselling practice. Tailored educational interventions and professional support are needed to improve the engagement of community pharmacy personnel in this area of public health.

Government-Industry Partnership in Weekly Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation for Women of Reproductive Age in the Philippines: Impact on Iron Status

2005 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 116-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa ◽  
Lourdes S. Paulino ◽  
Adelisa C. Ramos ◽  
Unita Marie Etorma ◽  
Tommaso Cavalli-Sforza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Iron Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Iron Folic Acid

Folic acid supplementation, dietary folate intake and risk of small for gestational age in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1965-1973
Author(s):  
Huaqi Guo ◽  
Baohong Mao ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
Liping Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Small For Gestational Age ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Dietary Folate ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Dietary Folate Intake ◽  
Reduced Risk

AbstractObjective:To investigate the hypothesis that folic acid supplementation and dietary folate intake before conception and during pregnancy reduce the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and to examine the joint effect of folic acid supplementation and dietary folate intake on the risk of SGA.Design:Participants were interviewed by trained study interviewers using a standardized and structured questionnaire. Information on birth outcomes and maternal complications was abstracted from medical records and dietary information was collected via a semi-quantitative FFQ before conception and during pregnancy.Setting:A birth cohort data analysis using the 2010–2012 Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital.Participants:Women (n 8758) and their children enrolled in the study.Results:Folic acid supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of SGA (OR = 0·72, 95 % CI 0·60, 0·86), with the reduced risk seen mainly for SGA at ≥37 weeks of gestational age (OR = 0·70, 95 % CI 0·58, 0·85) and nulliparous SGA (OR = 0·67, 95 % CI 0·54, 0·84). There was no significant association between dietary folate intake and SGA risk.Conclusions:Our study suggested that folic acid supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of SGA and the risk varied by preterm status and parity.

scholarly journals Awareness, use and information sources of folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects in pregnant Japanese women

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shumi Yamamoto ◽  
Yoshinao Wada
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Japanese Women ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Folic Acid Supplements

AbstractObjectiveFolic acid supplementation and folate-rich diets are recommended for women of childbearing age worldwide to prevent congenital anomalies. We aimed to determine the current status of folic acid supplementation among pregnant Japanese women and identify means to increase the intake of these supplements.DesignCross-sectional study.SubjectsA total of 1862 pregnant women who consulted the perinatal centre from September 2014 to December 2015 completed a questionnaire concerning knowledge about folic acid, sources of information and the use of folic acid supplements.SettingOsaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health (Japan).ResultsIn our study population, only 20·5 % of pregnant women took folic acid supplements periconceptionally even though 70·4 % knew about the protective effect of folic acid. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that age ≥35 years (OR=2·80; 95 % CI 1·24, 6·29) and knowledge of the benefits of folic acid (OR=2·64; 95 % CI 1·92, 3·62) were associated with periconceptional folic acid use, and multiparity was negatively associated with such use. Compared with those who took folic acid supplements periconceptionally, women who did not take supplements received information through passive and less interactive media.ConclusionsAlthough folic acid awareness was relatively high among pregnant Japanese women, folic acid supplementation before conception was insufficient. To increase the intake of folic acid supplements in countries in which foods are not fortified with folic acid, an effective public health approach promoting behavioural change is necessary for women of reproductive age.

scholarly journals Circulating Unmetabolized Folic Acid: Relationship to Folate Status and Effect of Supplementation

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Tam ◽  
Deborah O'Connor ◽  
Gideon Koren
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Metabolic Capacity ◽  
Acid Status ◽  
Status Of Women

There are increasing concerns that exposure to unmetabolized folic acid, which results from folic acid intakes that overwhelm the liver's metabolic capacity, may be associated with adverse effects. In this paper, we examined the folic acid status of women of reproductive age in relation to dietary intake and the effect of folic acid supplementation (1.1 mg or 5 mg). Plasma unmetabolized folic acid was not significantly correlated with folate intake estimated by food frequency questionnaire or biomarkers. The proportion of women with detectable levels of unmetabolized folic acid increased from 65% to 100% after twelve weeks of supplementation (P<0.05); however, the increase in concentrations did not reach statistical significance and the effect was not sustained. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the two doses. This suggests that there are mechanisms by which the body adapts to high folic acid intakes to limit exposure to unmetabolized folic acid.

scholarly journals The effect of folate fortification on folic acid-based homocysteine-lowering intervention and stroke risk: a meta-analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 1514-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Zeng ◽  
Chun-Hua Xu ◽  
Yuan-Ning Xu ◽  
Ya-Li Wang ◽  
Mian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractObjectiveFolate and vitamin B12 are two vital regulators in the metabolic process of homocysteine, which is a risk factor of atherothrombotic events. Low folate intake or low plasma folate concentration is associated with increased stroke risk. Previous randomized controlled trials presented discordant findings in the effect of folic acid supplementation-based homocysteine lowering on stroke risk. The aim of the present review was to perform a meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials to check the how different folate fortification status might affect the effects of folic acid supplementation in lowering homocysteine and reducing stroke risk.DesignRelevant randomized controlled trials were identified through formal literature search. Homocysteine reduction was compared in subgroups stratified by folate fortification status. Relative risks with 95 % confidence intervals were used as a measure to assess the association between folic acid supplementation and stroke risk.SettingThe meta-analysis included fourteen randomized controlled trials,SubjectsA total of 39 420 patients.ResultsHomocysteine reductions were 26·99 (sd 1·91) %, 18·38 (sd 3·82) % and 21·30 (sd 1·98) %, respectively, in the subgroups without folate fortification, with folate fortification and with partial folate fortification. Significant difference was observed between the subgroups with folate fortification and without folate fortification (P=0·05). The relative risk of stroke was 0·88 (95 % CI 0·77, 1·00, P=0·05) in the subgroup without folate fortification, 0·94 (95 % CI 0·58, 1·54, P=0·82) in the subgroup with folate fortification and 0·91 (95 % CI 0·82, 1·01, P=0·09) in the subgroup with partial folate fortification.ConclusionsFolic acid supplementation might have a modest benefit on stroke prevention in regions without folate fortification.

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