folic acid: better supplemented than fortified? or should be both?

Filed in archive Studies on February 16, 2006

The occurrence of neural tube defects (NTD) in born children like spina fibida and anencephaly fell by 25 per cent when fortification of flour with folic aid was made compulsory in the US in 1998.

Folic acid is a B vitamin that everyone needs. Especially for women who will get pregnant. It is important that a woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain and spine.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Vol. 194, pp. 520-526), found that pregnant black and Hispanic women had lower serum folic acid levels, despite the fact that all cereals and grain are fortified in the US.

"Our study shows that, even after food fortification with folic acid in the United States, taking vitamin supplements regularly has a large effect on serum folate levels," wrote lead author Jean Lawrence from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

Studies have shown that folic acid is more easily absorbed from fortified foods (85 per cent) and supplements (100 per cent) than the folate found naturally in foods (50 per cent).

This study could have implications for Europe where folic acid fortification is not mandatory, but is being seriously considered by some countries like the UK and Ireland.

Source: [NutraIngredients.com]