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JAMA. 1999;281:1883-1884.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

MMWR. 1999;48:325-327

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In the United States, approximately 4000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects each year; 50%-70% of these developmental defects could be prevented with daily intake of 400 µg of the B vitamin folic acid throughout the periconceptional period.¹ In 1992, the Public Health Service recommended that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 µg of folic acid daily throughout their childbearing years to reduce their risk for having a pregnancy affected by neural tube defects.² In 1998, the Institute of Medicine recommended that all women of childbearing potential consume 400 µg of synthetic folic acid per day from fortified foods and/or a supplement in addition to food folate from a varied diet.³ This report summarizes the findings of a survey conducted during July-August 1998 to assess folic acid knowledge and practices among women of childbearing age in the United States⁴ and compares these . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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