[Periconceptional folic acid prophylaxis and neural tube defects].

Neural tube defects (NTD) affect 60-70 pregnancies each year in Denmark. Folic acid (FA) intake can reduce the risk of NTD in pregnancy. The Danish Health and Medicines Authority recom­mends Danish women to take 0.4 mg of FA daily periconcep­tionally. Several studies have found low compliance regarding FA supplementation. In more than 70 countries around the world FA fortification of food products has been introduced and in USA and Canada this has lead to a decrease in NTD. FA fortification has not yet been introduced in Denmark. A revision of national Danish recommendations is needed.