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Folic acid and the prevention of disease: report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy

  • Document type:
    Publication
  • Author:
    Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
  • Published date:
    13 January 2000
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Product number:
    0113223048
  • Gateway reference:
    not required
  • Series number:
    Report on health and social su
  • Pages:
    101
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown Copyright

This report reviews available evidence linking dietary folate and folic acid with human health. It is concerned particularly with the need for adequate intakes of folate at the time of conception to reduce the risk of a pregnancy being affected by a neural tube defect (NTD), of which spina bifida is a common form.

The report was prepared by the COMA Working Group on Folic Acid, which included scientists and doctors expert in this field.

The report concludes that by fortifying flour with folic acid, a significant proportion of NTD-affected births could be prevented.

The report estimates that of 93 NTD-affected births in England and Wales, 38 could have prevented with the fortification of flour with folic acid. 107 NTD-affected births were reported in 1998 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland while in Scotland alone there were 74 in 1997. Spina bifida is a common form of NTD.

The report looks at both the benefits and possible risks of folic acid intake and concludes that:

  • universal fortification of flour with folic acid at 240 micrograms per 100g in food products as consumed would reduce the risk of an NTD in unborn babies and children by 41% 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.

Almost ten years ago it was shown that folic acid supplements taken at the time of conception could reduce the risk of unborn babies being affected by neural tube defects including spina bifida. Campaigns to encourage women who might become pregnant to take folic acid have raised awareness, but because many pregnancies are unplanned, many women continue to be at risk.

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