SynthesisFrontiers in pediatrics2024
The effect of folic acid intake on congenital anomalies. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- The complex link of the folate-homocysteine axis to myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure: from mechanistic exploration to clinical vision.Journal of advanced research · 2026Review
- Food desert residence and prenatal diet quality.Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026Article
- Prevalence of orofacial cleft and its associated factors among newborns in Kembata zone, central Ethiopia 2024.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies and Its Associated Factors Among Newborns in Central Ethiopia Region Public Hospitals, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, 2023.Public health challenges · 2025Article
- Factors influencing pregnant women's use of antenatal and emergency care services covered by social security: findings from the maternal eCohort in Mexico.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Observational
- Micro-nutrient sufficiency in mothers and babies: management of deficiencies while avoiding overload during pregnancy.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Congenital anomalies pose a significant challenge to global health and result in considerable morbidity and mortality in early childhood. With the decline of other causes of death among children under five, the burden of congenital anomalies is rising, emphasizing the need for improved prenatal care, screening, and nutrition for pregnant women. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to estimate the pooled effect of folic acid intake on congenital anomalies. Methods: To identify relevant research published up until December 30/2023, we conducted electronic searches of PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Hinary, Google, African Journals Online, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases using predefined eligibility criteria. We used Excel to extract data and evaluated the studies using the JBI appraisal checklist. We computed the pooled effect size with 95% confidence intervals for maternal folic acid intake on congenital anomalies using STATA version 17 and the DerSimonian and Laird random effects meta-analysis model. We assessed statistical heterogeneity using Cochran's Results: The review included 16 case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies. According to the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, maternal folic acid intake significantly lowers the incidence of congenital anomalies (odds ratio (OR), 0.23; confidence interval (CI), 0.16, 0.32). Among the included studies, both the Cochrane Conclusion: The results of the recent meta-analysis and systematic review have demonstrated a significant association between maternal folic acid intake and the risk of congenital anomalies. Specifically, children whose mothers received periconceptional folic acid supplementation had a 77% reduced risk of congenital anomalies. To further investigate the correlation between maternal folic acid supplementation and the occurrence of various congenital anomalies, particularly in developing countries, it is recommended that a comprehensive prospective study be conducted. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, PROSPERO (CRD42024511508).
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