UNASSIGNED: Strong evidence that @entity1501 (FA) prevents the majority of cases of @entity601 ( @entity601 ) has led to national organisations developing guidelines for @entity1 concerning periconceptional supplementation. In Europe, there is evidence of national variations in the incidence of @entity601 , with a recent Irish study reporting an increase in the rate. This review compares the periconceptional FA supplementation guidelines between the different countries in Europe. An online search of country-specific guidelines produced before 2015 concerning periconceptional FA supplementation was conducted. If an English version was not available directly, the EUROCAT register was searched for the English version of the recommendations. We identified national guidelines from 20 European countries. Over half recommended that FA supplements be taken by @entity1 planning a pregnancy, but three recommended that they should be taken by all @entity1 of @entity1 -bearing age. Four guidelines recommended starting FA at least 4 weeks preconceptionally, but no country recommended starting FA at least 12 weeks preconceptionally as suggested by recently published studies. There is a need for further consideration of the duration of preconceptional FA supplementation specifically. The latest scientific evidence in this area should inform the development of European guidelines on FA, as there is wide variation in current recommendations. Overall, the wide variation in national guidelines concerning periconceptional FA supplementation may in part explain the differences in national rates of @entity601 reported by EUROCAT. National guidelines on FA supplementation should be standardised across European countries.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 9 September 2015; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.131.

A review of European guidelines on periconceptional XXXX supplementation.

@entity1501 :: ('MESH:D005492', 'Chemical') :: ['folic acid'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'child'] @entity601 :: ('MESH:D009436', 'Disease') :: ['NTDs', 'neural tube defects']
@entity1501 :: (MESH:D005492,Chemical) :: ['folic acid']
