Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Folic acid fortification of flour prevents neural tube birth defects, and mandatory fortification is more effective than voluntary supplementation alone.
Women planning pregnancy should take folic acid supplements, but relying on fortified flour is a critical safety net for the broader population.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
folic acid taken before pregnancy prevented the majority of neural tube birth defects... the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated adding folic acid to the required fortifi cants in 'enriched fl our'.
Why this rating
Based on landmark MRC study and subsequent public health data.
Source
Micronutrient Deficiency Conditions: Global Health Issues
Theodore H. Tulchinsky · Public health reviews · 2010
narrative_reviewCited 384×
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