The Department of Health recommend that all women planning a pregnancy should be encouraged to eat more folate rich foods and take a 400 microgram supplement preconceptually and up to the twelfth week of pregnancy.
While the consumption of folate-rich foods such as green vegetables should be encouraged it has been shown that only folate supplementation is effective in improving folate status.
If a woman is receiving established antiepileptic drugs then prophylaxis with folic acid 5mg per day may be appropriate (2).
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