Citation
(2009), "Folic acid", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 39 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2009.01739cab.010
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Folic acid
Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 39, Issue 3.
Further to a study published in the Archives of Disease of Childhood recently regarding folic acid supplementation in pregnancy and lower respiratory tract infection up to 18 months of age, HSIS would like to make the following comment.
Dr Pamela Mason (scientific advisor and spokesperson for HSIS) comments: “Women of reproductive age, planning a pregnancy and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy should continue to follow current recommendation of the Department of Health, i.e. to take a supplement containing folic acid 400 micrograms daily during this period of their lives. Given the strong evidence that folic acid supplementation prevents congenital abnormalities in the offspring, women should not be dissuaded from taking folic acid supplements.
“This Norwegian study, published in the Archives of Disease of Childhood collected its data on folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and respiratory health in the offspring by questionnaire and as a result I would call into question the resulting findings and efficacy of such data. No account was taken of folate intake from food and no account was taken of the mother's genetic status in relation to folic acid metabolism. Ideally, both of these factors should have been measured and considered in the analysis. Another issue is that folic acid supplements were more commonly taken by pregnant women who had allergic conditions than by pregnant women who had no allergic conditions. All of these factors could have altered the results”.
Dr Mason concludes: “Folic acid is a key nutrient for pregnant women. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) showed that 86 per cent of women aged 19-24 years, 92 per cent of the 25-34 years age group and 84 per cent of the 35-49 years age group had folic acid intakes from all sources, including the contribution of supplements, of less than 400 micrograms daily. This study should not be used to discourage women from following current Department of Health recommendations to take a folic acid supplement”.
For more information see www.nexuspr.com
Further reading
Haberg, S.E., London, S.J., Stigum, H., Nafstad, P. and Nystad, W. (2008), Archives of Disease in Childhood, pp. 1-5. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.142448.