Folic acid – what you need to know

A new report claims that a third of babies born with neural tube defects might have been born healthy if flour had folic acid added. So why you should take this supplement and should we add folic acid to flour?

You can also take our quiz, in association with icircle Health, to see if you are getting enough folic acid.

Research by COMA – the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy – looked at the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs), including spina bifida. The committee, which not only included scientists but also doctors, concluded that by adding folic acid to flour, 38 of 93 NTD-affected births they studied could have been prevented. The report concluded:

• Adding folic acid to flour at 240 micrograms per 100g would reduce the risk of an NTD in an unborn baby and children by 41 per cent without resulting in unacceptably high intakes in any group of the population
• Women who could become pregnant should continue to be advised to take dietary supplements of folic acid.

It has been nearly ten years since it was shown that folic acid supplements taken at the time of getting pregnant could reduce the risk of unborn babies being affected by NTDs including spina bifida. Campaigns to encourage women who might become pregnant to take folic acid have now raised awareness of this issue but, because many pregnancies are unplanned, many women are still at risk.

Current advice for women planning a pregnancy remains:

• Take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement daily
• Choose breads and breakfast cereals which have added folic acid
• Eat more of foods which are naturally high in folates and do not overcook them.

Where to next?

• Here's a comprehensive list of foods in which you'll find folic acid
• Read some opinions on adding folic acid to flour
• Are you getting enough folic acid? Take our folic acid quiz to see
• Have your say on any pregnancy topic on our discussion board
• Read more vital pregnancy information
• Pregnant? Why not join our online antenatal classes
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• See more babyworld features