Commentary: Folate and neural tube defects—the influence of Smithells et al. on research and policy in the Antipodes

In their paper entitled Apparent prevention of neural tube defects by periconceptional vitamin supplementation, Smithells et al.1 noted that their findings had ‘import-ant implications for further research and, if the hypothesis is confirmed, for health care policies’. The publication of this paper had an immediate ef-fect on our research in Western Australia, where we had just established a birth defects registry, funded by a small research grant. We wanted to embark on an epidemiological research project that would contribute new knowledge and, at the same time, might prove the value of the registry and hence support its con-tinued funding. Given that the Smithells ’ study was on multivitamin supplementation and recurrent neural tube defect (NTD), we decided that we could add ne