Dr. James L. Mills of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development questions the idea of increasing the folic acid fortification in foods. Currently, it is recommended that women of child-bearing age take 400 milligrams of folic acid daily to reduce the risks of delivering children with birth defects. The Food and Drug Administration agreed to the fortification of bread and cereal grain products to help American women reach this goal. But before adding more folic acid to foods, Dr. Mills suggests researchers analyze the long-term effects of current fortification levels, particularly in children. He also suggests education campaigns targeted at child-bearing age women may help them increase folic acid consumption on their own without raising fortification levels.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: New England Journal of Medicine, May 11, 2000
