Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford University School of Medicine researchers studied folic acid's impact on brain and spine birth defects, according to Medical Xpress. The U.S. food supply fortification with folic acid was expected to decrease these birth defects.
The study involved more than 1.3 million California births and pregnancies occurring between 1989 and 2010. Researchers studied neural tube defects.
Birth Defects Research Part A published the study on May 18.
Here are seven observations:
1. Before fortification, neural tube defects were becoming less commonplace.
2. Lower folic acid intake levels are associated with an increased risk for neural tube defects.
3. However, researchers found the fortification of the food supply with folic acid did not result in a significant decline of neural tube defects.
4. The study found an overall rate of neural tube defects of 87.8 cases per 100,000 births.
5. Before fortification began (1989 to 1996), neural tube defects decreased by 8.7 cases per 100,000 births annually.
6. After fortification implementation (1999 to 2010), neural tube defects decreased at a slower rate of 1.7 cases per 100,000 births annually.
7. The study's results will fuel the debate about the future modifications of folic acid fortification.