Folic acid – a vitamin of specific importance in preventive medicine
- 09.08.2005
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- Redaktion
Results of a representative inquiry of pupils in Saxony-Anhalt
M. Seelig, S. Pötzsch, V. Steinbicke, Magdeburg
Periconceptional intake of the vitamin folic acid is one of the few measures of primary prophylaxis minimizing the occurrence of severe congenital malformation. Optimal folic acid supply at the time of conception reduces neural tube defects by 85 %.However, many publications in medical journals and other print media dealing with the preventive potential of folic acid have not increased the awareness of this fact in women capable of becoming pregnant, also multiplier in the public health system obviously failed to take notice of this fact.
To learn about what pupils know of the vitamin and to inform them about the significance of folic acid, girls and boys attending classes 10 to 13 of secondary and grammar schools were questioned about the problem by means of questionnaires. While nearly all pupils knew some prophylactic measures to be observed by pregnant women such as “no smoking” or “no alcohol”. Only 4.5 % knew that folic acid is a vitamin.
Less than 1 % correctly answered the question about the function of folic acid in the human organism. There were very few cases in which girls had a better knowledge than boys. Their daily diet e.g. frequently comprises more fruit and vegetables unlike boys. A comparison of age groups has shown that those attending classes 12 and 13 were somewhat better informed about folic acid than pupils attending class 10.
To increase knowledge of the preventive potential of folic acid, didactic material for teachers has been developed to make sure pupils receive the necessary information.
Key words: Folic acid / knowledge / representative inquiry / pupils / Saxony-Anhalt
Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 08/05 ab Seite 315.
