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Lewis B. Holmes, MD

JAMA. 1988;260(21):3181.

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

The prevention of birth defects is discussed frequently but achieved rarely. Mulinare et al¹ report, in this issue of THE JOURNAL, the exciting possibility that the occurrence of anencephaly and spina bifida may be prevented if the pregnant woman takes a multivitamin preparation around the time of conception. Such a simple solution is almost too good to be true. To their credit, Mulinare et al outline several concerns and reservations about their findings. Most important of all, we need confirmation of this finding from other studies.

At this time, spina bifida and anencephaly, the most common of the neural tube defects, occur almost always as a surprise in the children of healthy parents. The defects are present by the fourth week of gestation, which is often before the woman knows she is pregnant. If all women were taking a multivitamin preparation at the time of conception, would this birth . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Massachusetts General Hospital Boston

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