There is no risk of overdosing the public with folic acid through fortification of flour, experts say today.
Setting a maximum limit – as in the UK – is “flawed,” according to experts.
The study carried out by Queen Mary University of London, UK, has added to this finding by suggesting that fears of ‘overdosing’ are unfounded.
Many countries around the world have introduced mandatory folic acid fortification of cereals – and this is linked to a drop in the number of neural tube defects.
The new research published today (31 January) in Public Health Reviews is a re-analysis of the findings suggesting an upper limit for folic acid. It finds no link between dose of folic acid and neurological damage.
Lead author, Professor Sir Nicholas Wald, says: "With the upper limit removed there is no scientific or medical reason for delaying the introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification in the UK and other countries that have not yet adopted this proven public health intervention.
"Failing to fortify flour with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects is like having a polio vaccine and not using it. Every day in the UK, on average two women have a termination of pregnancy because of a neural tube defect and every week two women give birth to an affected child."
Co-author Colin Blakemore, former head of the Medical Research Council, added: "It’s time for the British public to reap the full benefits of that research."
Wald, N. J. et al. Public health failure in the prevention of neural tube defects: time to abandon the tolerable upper intake level of folate. Public Health Reviews 31 January 2018 doi: 10.1186/s40985-018-0079-6 [abstract]
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