Preconceptional supplementation is impractical

doi:10.1136/bmj.311.6999.256c

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Catherine Boon,
Sally Hull

Trainee in general practice General practitioner Jubilee Street Practice, Steels Lane Health Centre, London E1 0LR

EDITOR,--We agree with Nicholas J Wald and Carol Bower that the only way of ensuring an adequate intake of folic acid by pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects is by means of fortification of food as opposed to supplementation.1 Supplements need to be started within 30 days of conception, and women would therefore need educating before conception.2 There seems to be little demand for preconception clinics in primary care, and women of lower socioeconomic background (who are at …