Correlates of intake of folic acid-containing supplements among pregnant women.

Study answer

What this study found

53% began FA supplements during the periconceptional period, 35% during early pregnancy, 8% during late pregnancy (total 96% took FA-containing supplements at some time around conception or during pregnancy). Among FA-containing supplement users, 94% reported daily intake; 97% used prenatal vitamin/mineral formulations; 84% continued FA through delivery. Correlates of nonpericonceptional or late intake included being nonwhite or a non–English speaker, younger age, lower education, and Spanish language; fertility treatments were associated with higher likelihood of periconceptional use.…

Study & population

Population-based control group from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Key limitation

Self-reported supplement intake may be misclassified; timing and frequency rely on recall; small number of women with no FA intake reduces precision; potential selection bias; findings may not generalize beyond NBDS control population.

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Original abstract