Fortification Of Bread Flour With Folic Acid Will Prevent Birth Defects

Women are not getting enough of folic acid during pregnancy, revealed a new study.

Though the Food Standards Agency has recommended that folic acid be added to bread and flour, the US government is mulling over it. In a study published in the British Medical Journal experts from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) have reported that adding folic acid supplements in bread making will help women during pregnancy and prevent birth defects like spina bifida or Neural tube defects.

Indian NGO Starts Campaign to Promote Use of Folic Acid to Prevent Birth Defects
India has the highest number of infants born with genetic disorders and birth defects in the world, which is responsible for a greater proportion of infant and childhood mortality.

‘Intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid supplement daily will help women during pregnancy and prevent birth defects.’

Tweet it Now

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England (PHE), said: "Implementing SACN's advice to add folic acid to flour would reduce the risk of birth defects, such as spina bifida, in pregnancy. PHE's analysis shows that 85 per cent of 16 to 49-year-old women have folic acid levels below the new World Health Organisation recommendation for women entering pregnancy.”

He added, “This highlights the importance for pregnant women, and those trying or likely to get pregnant, of taking a daily folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms - before and up to the 12th week of pregnancy."

Source-Medindia

Folic Acid Fortification Reduces Neural Tube Defects by 35%
Fortification of grain foods with the B vitamin folic acid has saved about 1,300 babies every year since 1998.

Folic Acid Supplements may Help Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Old People
Supplemental folic acid may be an inexpensive alternative to enhance blood vessel dilation in older adults, thus reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Folic Acid Supplements for Stroke Prevention
People who took folic acid supplements along with a medication for high blood pressure called enalapril (Vasotec) were less likely to have a stroke than people who took folic acid alone.