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Handbook of Food Fortification and Health pp 247–257Cite as

Folic Acid to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Success and Controversies

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Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

This chapter contains the story of folic acid (FA) food fortification in Canada. The first section describes the context in which the decision was made to pass a regulation requiring flour producers to fortify a wide range of products with the aim of preventing neural tube defects. In Part II, the results of impact studies are described: increase in dietary intake, improvement in folate status, and reduction in the frequency of neural tube defects and possibly other congenital anomalies, cardiovascular disease, and some pediatric cancers. The difficulties involved in studying the adverse effects of fortification are discussed. Finally, three current controversies are summarized: the folic acid recommendation for women of childbearing age, increasing FA fortification levels, and fortifying food with vitamin B12.

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Abbreviations

FA:

Folic acid

NTD:

Neural tube defect

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, CRIUCPQ, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec City, QC, Canada, G1V4G5

    Philippe De Wals MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Philippe De Wals MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Philippe De Wals MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. University Hospital Lewisham, Department of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Kings College Hospital, London, SM68SU, United Kingdom

    Rajaventhan Srirajaskanthan

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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De Wals, P. (2013). Folic Acid to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Success and Controversies. In: Preedy, V., Srirajaskanthan, R., Patel, V. (eds) Handbook of Food Fortification and Health. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7110-3_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7110-3_20

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