Background: Orofacial clefts are common congenital birth defects that are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Affected babies and their families suffer from burdensome consequences emotionally, socially and economically. The association of orofacial clefts with maternal intake of folic acid still unclear. Objective: This study was conducted to collectively examine evidences released regarding the possible protective effect of maternal use of folic acid against orofacial clefts of any type. Methods: We conducted a meta analysis and searched bibliographic databases for potential prospective and retrospective studies that report the association between folic acid and orofacial clefts. Our search was limited to human studies published in English in the last five years. Results revealed by included studies were combined using the random effect model. Q test and I2 statistics were used to examine heterogeneity and further investigation made by subgroup analysis and meta regression. The publication bias assessed visually by funnel plot and statistically by Begg?s test and Egger?s test. Results: The combined odds ratio revealed by analyzing 6 case-control studies was 0.387 (95% CI: 0.263, 0.567; p<0.001). Significant heterogeneity between studies was noted (Q=12.4, p=.003, I2=59.7). Conclusions: Our meta analysis supported the hypothesis of the preventive role of folic acid to orofacial clefts but more attention has to be paid for examining this association using prospective and interventional study designs.
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Author Name: Hani A. Almalki , Salman M. Alsubhi , Ahmed M. Alkhoraisy , Ali A. Alzahrani and Somaia K. Almalki.
URL: View PDF
Keywords: IJAR
ISSN: 2320-5407
EISSN: 2320-5407
EOI/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJA
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