Folic Acid Recommendation will save over 300 lives a year
The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus – ASBAH today welcomed the Government commissioned report, which will recommend the compulsory fortification of all flour with the vitamin folic acid within the UK.
Each year up to 1200 pregnancies in the UK are affected by Neural Tube Defects (spina bifida) – 85% of which result in termination, Around 150 severely disabled are born with Spina Bifida. Taking Folic acid, at the correct dose, could prevent over 75% of these affected pregnancies.
Adding a small measure of the vitamin to flour is not “mass medication” but responsible nutrition policy and accepted public health practice in the USA and 38 other countries that have already introduced flour fortification. Significant health benefits have been seen including reductions in heart disease and stroke and a dramatic fall in the number of spina bifida - affected pregnancies.
Chief Executive of The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Andrew Russell, commented: “A recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to implement mandatory flour fortification means that at least 300 lives a year could be saved. About 1,000 abortions are carried out each year in the UK and 150 children are born severely disabled, due to neural tube defects.
“Demographics show that it is the poorest and most educationally underprivileged women who are most at risk of a spina bifida pregnancy. Unfortunately relying on women to plan their pregnancies and take a folic acid supplement in advance is unrealistic in many cases.
“ Former fears that folic acid could “mask” vitamin B12 deficiency have now been disproved. The Food Standards Agency’s scientific committee, SACN has studied the evidence and concluded that flour fortification would be both safe and effective.”
Andrew added, “Moreover since thousands of Americans have taken folic acid in supplements for decades, there is over a billion person-years of experience of folic acid supplementation, with no evidence of any harm from the vitamin, only benefits.”