January 31, 2018

Scientists and experts claim new research strengthens the case for fortification

Roundup comments accompanied this briefing.

Anencephaly and spina bifida (collectively referred to as neural tube defects) are serious and relatively common birth defects, affecting 1 in every 500-1,000 pregnancies. In 1991 a Medical Research Council randomised trial showed that increasing folic acid intake immediately before and early in pregnancy prevented most cases of neural tube defects.

As a result of this publicly-funded British research, eighty-one countries, including the USA since 1998, have introduced mandatory folic acid fortification of cereals. This has reduced the prevalence of neural tube defects, without any evidence of harm. In countries that have introduced fortification, the number of neural tube defects has decreased by up to a half. However despite successive recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, the UK has not introduced mandatory fortification. At present, women in the UK who are considering becoming pregnant are advised to start taking a daily folic acid supplement, but most do not do so, particularly younger women and those in ethnic minorities, emphasising the need for fortification

Now a new study to be published on 31 January 2018 reinforces recent calls from experts to the Department of Health to approve the fortification of flour with folic acid, in order to protect babies from having neural tube defects.  The new research, published in Public Health Reviews by scientists at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London and the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

Speakers:

Prof Sir Nicholas Wald, Professor of Environmental and Preventive Medicine and Director, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London

Prof Sir Colin Blakemore, Director, Centre for the Study of the Senses School of Advanced Study, University of London

Prof Joan Morris, Professor of Medical Statistics, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London

Lord Jeff Rooker, House of Lords and Chair of the Board of the Food Standards Agency from 2009-2014.

Kate Steel, Chief Executive, SHINE