Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Scientists question folic acid fortification
Slashdot It! Slashdot Scientists question folic acid fortification
Submit to Reddit Submit Scientists question folic acid fortification to Reddit
Reading: Scientists question folic acid fortificationTwitter This Reading: Scientists question folic acid fortificationTwitter Scientists question folic acid fortification
Add to Facebook Add Scientists question folic acid fortification to Facebook

Scientists question folic acid fortification

November 05, 2007

Scientists at the Institute of Food Research have highlighted possible consequences of fortifying flour with folic acid due to new evidence of how it is absorbed by the body.

In May, the Food Standards Agency's Board agreed unanimously that 'mandatory fortification' with folic acid should be introduced to make sure the number of babies born with neural tube defects is reduced. This means that it would be compulsory to add folic acid to either bread or flour.




Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin found in a wide variety of foods including liver and green leafy vegetables. Folates are metabolised in the gut, whereas in a paper to be published in the British Journal of Nutrition in October IFR scientists suggest that folic acid is metabolised in the liver. The liver is an easily saturated system, and fortification could lead to significant unmetabolised folic acid entering the blood stream, with the potential to cause a number of health problems.

"Fortifying UK flour with folic acid would reduce the incidence of neural tube defects", said Dr Siān Astley of the Institute of Food Research. "However, with doses of half the amount being proposed for fortification in the UK, the liver becomes saturated and unmetabolised folic acid floats around the blood stream.

"This can cause problems for people being treated for leukaemia and arthritis, women being treated for ectopic pregnancies, men with a family history of bowel cancer, people with blocked arteries being treated with a stent and elderly people with poor vitamin B status. For women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation, it can also increase the likelihood of conceiving multiple embryos, with all the associated risks for the mother and babies.

"It could take 20 years for any potential harmful effects of unmetabolised folic acid to become apparent".

It has already been shown that folic acid forticifation can exhibit Jekyll and Hyde characteristics, providing protection in some people while causing harm to others. For example, studies have confirmed that unmetabolised folic acid accelerates cognitive decline in the elderly with low vitamin B12 status, while those with normal vitamin B12 status may be protected against cognitive impairment. Most over 65s in the UK have low B12 status.

Similarly, dietary folates have a protective effect against cancer, but folic acid supplementation may increase the incidence of bowel cancer. It may also increase the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Since the 1980s a consensus formed that that folic acid is metabolised in the small intestine in a similar way to naturally-occuring folates. This consensus was used to assess the safety of folic acid fortification.

"We challenge the underlying scientific premise behind this consensus", said Dr Astley. "This has important implications for the use of folic acid in fortification, because even at low doses it could lead to over consumption of folic acid with its inherent risks".

Norwich BioScience Institutes





Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud
This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size.
Mathematics   Cancer Risk   Partner Violence   Vaccine Development   Heart Surgery   Electricity   Tuberculosis   Soybean   MicroRNA   Greenhouse Gases   Periodontal   Saliva   Mastectomy   Domestic Violence   Lithium   Walking   Stroke Risk   Ice Core   Cholesterol   Huntingtons Disease   Antimicrobial   Viruses   Gastric Cancer   Malpractice   Pancreatic Cancer  
Related Folic Acid Current Events and Folic Acid News Articles Folic Acid Current Events and Folic Acid News RSS Folic Acid Current Events and Folic Acid News RSS
UCF researcher's nanoparticles could someday lead to end of chemotherapy
Nanoparticles specially engineered by University of Central Florida Assistant Professor J. Manuel Perez and his colleagues could someday target and destroy tumors, sparing patients from toxic, whole-body chemotherapies.

Some neural tube defects in mice linked to enzyme deficiency
Women of childbearing age can reduce the risk of having a child born with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida by eating enough folate or folic acid. However, folate prevents only about 70 percent of these defects.

Folic acid to prevent congenital heart defects
The Canadian policy of fortifying grain products with folic acid has already proved to be effective in preventing neural tube defects.

Taking folic acid for a year before pregnancy may reduce risk of preterm birth
Women who take folic acid supplements for at least one year before they become pregnant may cut their risk of having a premature baby by half, according to research published this week in the online journal, PLoS Medicine.

Hopkins Children's study: Folic acid may help treat allergies, asthma
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, essential for red blood cell health and long known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects, may also suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms.

Immigrant women may be at higher risk of having a baby with a birth defect
Immigrant women are less likely to use folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent spina bifida, particularly those who recently immigrated to the country, according to a new study led by a St. Michael's Hospital physician in collaboration with Statistics Canada, Health Canada and the University of Toronto.

Pregnant women who smoke, urged to give up before 15-week 'deadline'
Women who stop smoking before week 15 of pregnancy cut their risk of spontaneous premature birth and having small babies to the same as non-smokers, according to research published on bmj.com today.

Low levels of vitamin B12 may increase risk for neural tube defects
Children born to women who have low blood levels of vitamin B12 shortly before and after conception may have an increased risk of a neural tube defect, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Trinity College Dublin, and the Health Research Board of Ireland.

Scientists discover why teeth form in a single row
A system of opposing genetic forces determines why mammals develop a single row of teeth, while sharks sport several, according to a study published today in the journal Science. When completely understood, the genetic program described in the study may help guide efforts to re-grow missing teeth and prevent cleft palate, one of the most common birth defects.

Children with inflammatory bowel disease have surprisingly high folate levels, study finds
Children with newly diagnosed cases of inflammatory bowel disease have higher concentrations of folate in their blood than individuals without IBD, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley.
More Folic Acid Current Events and Folic Acid News Articles
Spring Valley - Folic Acid 400 mcg, 250 Tablets

Spring Valley - Folic Acid 400 mcg, 250 Tablets
by Schiff Nutrition International.

Folic Acid is a B vitamin and is one of the factors involved with vitamin B-12 in the production of new red blood cells and the synthesis of RNA and DNA, the carriers of genetic information.

Country Life Folic Acid 800 mcg, 100 Tablets

Country Life Folic Acid 800 mcg, 100 Tablets
by Country Life

Country Life Folic Acid 800 mcg, 100 tabs

Nature Made Folic Acid 600 mcg with DHA - 300 Softgels

Nature Made Folic Acid 600 mcg with DHA - 300 Softgels
by Nature Made

Folic acid, also known as folate and folacin, is essential in cell division, DNA synthesis, and the manufacturing of brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters in the body. Without adequate levels of folic acid, cells do not divide properly. Folic acid is vital to the development of the nervous system of a fetus. A deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy has been linked to several birth defects, such as the neural tube defect spina bifida. Therefore, it is critical for women of child-bearing age to consume 400 mcg of folic acid per day. In addition, folic acid may also play a significant role in heart health. It does so by helping to keep homocysteine levels down in the blood. Homocysteine is a substance that formed when Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels are low, and research has indicated...

Spring Valley - Folic Acid 800 mcg, 250 Tablets

Spring Valley - Folic Acid 800 mcg, 250 Tablets
by Nature's Bounty, Inc.

Folic Acid is a B vitamin and is one of the factors involved with vitamin B-12 in the production of new red blood cells and the synthesis of RNA and DNA, the carriers of genetic information.

Folic Acid and the Amazing B Vitamins

Folic Acid and the Amazing B Vitamins
by Glenn S. Rothfeld (Author), Suzanne LeVert (Author)

Understand The Power Of The Bs-- For Head-To-Toe Health.

Have a healthy baby, beat the odds against major diseases, gain relief from arthritis, and much more. This easy-to-read, question-and-answer guide for women and men provides the most up-to-date information about these readily available, natural, inexpensive--and ultimately life-saving--nutrients.

Includes complete lists of all fruits, vegetables, and grains that contain folic acid and the other B vitamins
Tips and strategies for preparing and storing foods to preserve maximum nutrient power
Delicious and tempting serving suggestions

TwinLab Folic Acid Caps, 800 mcg, 200 Capsules (Pack of 3)

TwinLab Folic Acid Caps, 800 mcg, 200 Capsules (Pack of 3)
by Twinlab

Dietary supplement. Crystalline pure. TwinLab Folic Acid Caps are easier to swallow and assimilate. Well tolerated by the most allergic individuals. No tablet binders, coatings or colorings. No added flavorings, sugars, salt, artificial sweeteners, colori

Source Naturals Folic Acid, 800 mcg, Tablets, 1000 tablets (Pack of 2)

Source Naturals Folic Acid, 800 mcg, Tablets, 1000 tablets (Pack of 2)
by Source Naturals

Dietary supplement. Folic acid, along with Vitamin B-12, is required for the synthesis of DNA, the principal genetic material in the body. Because of this function, it is important in cell division and the healthy development and structure of red blood cells. Adequate folic acid may reduce a woman's risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord birth defect, making it an important nutritional supplement for women who are of intend to become pregnant. (These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.) Suitable for vegetarians and Hypoallergenic: contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, corn, soy or wheat. Contains no sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, or artificial color, flavor...

  Folic Acid
by Sidney Baker (Author)



Rainbow Light Just Once Prenatal One Multivitamin Tablets, 90-Count Bottle

Rainbow Light Just Once Prenatal One Multivitamin Tablets, 90-Count Bottle
by Rainbow Light

Dietary Supplement. Feel the difference: Potent & science-safe; Gentle on the stomach; Guaranteed 100% natural. Celebrating 25 years! Potent & science safe targeted nutrition for pregnant & nursing women. Prenatal One Multivitamin supports all body systems of pregnant and nursing women with: Research-backed multivitamin protection - from optimal potencies of critical nutrients including extra iron and the full 800 mcg of folic acid, plus the most optimal potencies of calcium and magnesium of any one-per-day prenatal multivitamin. A gentle prenatal blend - of nourishing botanicals, traditionally used to support a healthy pregnancy, including fresh ginger juice to help soothe digestion. Guaranteed 100% natural - for exceptional purity when moms and babies need it most. 100% natural - Free...

Source Naturals Folic Acid, 800 mcg, Tablets, 1000 tablets (Pack of 2)

Source Naturals Folic Acid, 800 mcg, Tablets, 1000 tablets (Pack of 2)
by Source Naturals

Dietary supplement. Folic acid, along with Vitamin B-12, is required for the synthesis of DNA, the principal genetic material in the body. Because of this function, it is important in cell division and the healthy development and structure of red blood ce

© 2009 BrightSurf.com