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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Experts urge wider folic acid use | Experts urge wider folic acid use |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Women of childbearing age have been urged to take folic acid supplements, even if they are not planning a family. | Women of childbearing age have been urged to take folic acid supplements, even if they are not planning a family. |
| The Scottish Spina Bifida Association said 15 babies had been born in Scotland with the condition since January - double the normal number. | The Scottish Spina Bifida Association said 15 babies had been born in Scotland with the condition since January - double the normal number. |
| It said folic acid supplements, which research suggests can prevent many cases, were often taken too late. | It said folic acid supplements, which research suggests can prevent many cases, were often taken too late. |
| Its advice targets all sexually active women of childbearing age because of the numbers of unplanned pregnancies. | Its advice targets all sexually active women of childbearing age because of the numbers of unplanned pregnancies. |
| Children born with spina bifida are often paralysed from the waist down and can suffer lifelong spinal cord, bowel and bladder problems. | Children born with spina bifida are often paralysed from the waist down and can suffer lifelong spinal cord, bowel and bladder problems. |
| Some children also have brain damage. | Some children also have brain damage. |
| Four weeks | Four weeks |
| Research suggests up to 75% of cases could be prevented by the mother taking folic acid three months before conception, and during pregnancy. | Research suggests up to 75% of cases could be prevented by the mother taking folic acid three months before conception, and during pregnancy. |
| Five-year-old Ella Chambers was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. | Five-year-old Ella Chambers was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. |
| She cannot walk and has hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. | She cannot walk and has hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. |
| Her mother Melanie said: "I took folic acid tablets as soon as I found out I was pregnant but I've since discovered you need to take it at least three months prior to becoming pregnant. | Her mother Melanie said: "I took folic acid tablets as soon as I found out I was pregnant but I've since discovered you need to take it at least three months prior to becoming pregnant. |
| "I'll never know, if I had taken it earlier, whether I'd be in a different situation now." | "I'll never know, if I had taken it earlier, whether I'd be in a different situation now." |
| The spinal cord develops within the first four weeks of pregnancy so by that stage it's too late Dr Margo Whiteford | The spinal cord develops within the first four weeks of pregnancy so by that stage it's too late Dr Margo Whiteford |
| Dr Margo Whiteford, consultant geneticist and chair of the Scottish Spina Bifida Association, said: "This year we've had as many contacts from families in the first half of the year as we'd expect to see for the full year. | Dr Margo Whiteford, consultant geneticist and chair of the Scottish Spina Bifida Association, said: "This year we've had as many contacts from families in the first half of the year as we'd expect to see for the full year. |
| "We don't know if this is down to folic acid but we do know that most women don't take enough folic acid at the right time. | "We don't know if this is down to folic acid but we do know that most women don't take enough folic acid at the right time. |
| "Ladies do know about folic acid preventing spina bifida but they wait until they've missed a period before they start taking it. | "Ladies do know about folic acid preventing spina bifida but they wait until they've missed a period before they start taking it. |
| "The spinal cord develops within the first four weeks of pregnancy so by that stage it's too late - if the baby's going to have spina bifida it will already have developed it." | "The spinal cord develops within the first four weeks of pregnancy so by that stage it's too late - if the baby's going to have spina bifida it will already have developed it." |
| It's not known whether the same trend has been seen in other parts of the country, as the latest figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland date back to 2007. | It's not known whether the same trend has been seen in other parts of the country, as the latest figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland date back to 2007. |
| Under review | Under review |
| Scotland has the highest rate of children born with spina bifida in the UK because Scottish mothers are less likely to abort the foetus once the condition is diagnosed. | Scotland has the highest rate of children born with spina bifida in the UK because Scottish mothers are less likely to abort the foetus once the condition is diagnosed. |
| Half of affected pregnancies are terminated in Scotland, compared with 90% in the rest of the UK. | Half of affected pregnancies are terminated in Scotland, compared with 90% in the rest of the UK. |
| In 2007 the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommended that folic acid should be added to bread or flour. | In 2007 the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommended that folic acid should be added to bread or flour. |
| However that recommendation is under review following new research which suggested it could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. | However that recommendation is under review following new research which suggested it could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. |
| The FSA said that anyone who is not about to become pregnant could get enough folic acid from a balanced diet. | The FSA said that anyone who is not about to become pregnant could get enough folic acid from a balanced diet. |
| However, the FSA adds that pregnant women should take 0.4mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid until the 12th week of pregnancy. |