ArticleBirth defects research2019
A case-control analysis of maternal diet and risk of neural tube defects in Bangladesh.
Article in Birth defects research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Provision of folic acid for reducing arsenic toxicity in arsenic-exposed children and adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Correlation between folic acid and hemoglobin in pregnant women: cross-sectional study from 2017 to 2019.Revista brasileira de enfermagem · 2026Article
- Folate Interaction With Genetic Risk for Neural Tube Defects Among Infants in Bangladesh.Birth defects research · 2025Article
- The Importance of Neurosurgical Intervention and Surgical Timing for Management of Pediatric Patients with Myelomeningoceles in Bangladesh.World neurosurgery · 2024Article
- Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for preformed vitamin A and β-carotene.EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority · 2024Article
- Gene-environment interactions underlying the etiology of neural tube defects.Current topics in developmental biology · 2023Article
- Effects of maternal calcium and protein intake on the development and bone metabolism of offspring mice.Open life sciences · 2023Article
- Parental metal exposures as potential risk factors for spina bifida in Bangladesh.Environment international · 2021Article
- Gene Environment Interactions in the Etiology of Neural Tube Defects.Frontiers in genetics · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesMothers need a nutrient-rich diet for healthy neural tube development. Neural tube defect risk can be reduced through fortifying grain products with folic acid and taking folic acid supplements. Fortification is not required in Bangladesh. Maternal supplement use rates are low, similar to other countries. This study evaluates maternal dietary intake during pregnancy to identify possible interventions.
methodsA food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) assessed maternal diet. The primary aim compared dietary intake (calories, fat, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals) between mothers of infants with myelomeningocele (cases) and mothers of controls. Secondary aims included (i) comparing foods consumed and (ii) evaluating if rice intake correlated with arsenic exposure. Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, McNemar's chi-squared test, and linear regression were used.
resultsThis study included 110 matched mother-infant pairs (55 cases/55 controls). Mothers of cases and mothers of controls had similar caloric intake [median 2406 kcal/day vs. 2196 kcal/day (p = 0.071)]. Mothers in both groups consumed less than half the daily recommended 600 μg of folate. Diets were potentially deficient in vitamins A, D, E, potassium, sodium, and iron. Steamed rice was the primary food consumed for both groups, and this rice intake was not associated with toenail arsenic.
conclusionsDietary interventions should increase folate, vitamins A, D, E, potassium, sodium, and iron intake in Bangladeshi mothers. Folic acid fortification of grain products maybe the only viable strategy to achieve adequate folate intake for mothers. Given the central role of rice to the Bangladeshi diet, fortifying rice may be a viable option.
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