For a woman with a history of a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect, what is the recommended daily intake of folic acid before attempting another pregnancy?

For a woman with a history of a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect, the recommended daily intake of folic acid before attempting another pregnancy is 4 mg. This increased dosage is essential because women with a previous neural tube defect occurrence are at a higher risk for having another affected pregnancy.

Folic acid is crucial for proper neural tube development during early pregnancy, and higher doses (typically 4 mg) are advised to significantly reduce the risk of recurrence in women with a previous neural tube defect history. This recommendation is based on evidence that this increased intake can effectively decrease the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in subsequent pregnancies.

Other recommended daily intakes, such as 0.4 mg, are typically suggested for the general population to prevent neural tube defects but are insufficient for women at higher risk. The recommendations for 2 mg or 8 mg do not align with current guidelines, as 2 mg may not provide adequate protection, while 8 mg could be excessive and is not routinely endorsed for preconception care in the context of previous neural tube defects.