[e-drug] Folic acid 5 or 0.4 mg for spina bifida prophylaxis?

["Huma Rasheed" <leohumapk@yahoo.co.uk>]

E-DRUG: Folic acid 5 or 0.4 mg for spina bifida prophylaxis?
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Dear E-druggers

In Pakistan we have only 5mg tablets of folic acid available as a single ingredient preparation. In our attempt to participate in the Spina bifida awareness months around the world I am trying to evolve a local campaign addressing the issue here in Pakistan. 

A very important question needs to be answered in this respect: can mass campaign be started using 5mg folic acid tablet as the literature suggests 0.4mg daily dosing for women of child bearing age, and 5mg is used for the women on high risk for giving birth to neural tube defect (NTD) baby.

Your comments and references are needed over this important issue. Can we suggest taking quarter of 5mg tablet daily in our campaign to the masses, or there could be any other solution? Please do give scientific references as well if available.

Of course the solution of having 0.4mg tablet being manufactured or imported to Pakistan at cost effective rates is also a possibility. But a lot of work needs to be done in this respect, for which I also plan to launch a forum where the health professionals from community, policy makers, civil society key persons and industrialist should sit together to address the health care needs of national importance.

Best regards 

Huma Nouman
Clinical Pharmacist
The Children's Hospital
Lahore 
Pakistan
leohumapk@yahoo.co.uk