News

Folic Acid Study 2012

Mary Rose Sweeney, Lecturer in Health Systems Research in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences, at DCU, recently lead a study, published this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, to examine the levels of Folic Acid in the older Irish population, exposed to a food supply which is extensively fortified with folic acid.

In some countries such as Canada and the USA mandatory folic acid fortification of flour was commenced in response to research findings which showed that neural tube defects, such as spina bifida could be prevented by taking folic acid prior to becoming pregnant. Ireland did not go down the mandatory fortification route and instead a culture of very extensive voluntary fortification emerged. Cells would not normally encounter the synthetic form of the vitamin in nature so some safety issues arise, including pernicious anaemia masking and possible cancer acceleration. Elderly people are at risk in both of these scenarios.

As part of this study fasting blood samples were collected from people between 60-86 years of age. Dietary intake data specifically relating to folic acid consumption was also collected.

These blood samples were analysed for levels of un-metabolised folic acid. The study showed that over 90% of the elderly group had low levels of unmetabolised folic acid in their blood samples, even thought that had been fasting overnight. These findings suggest a persistence presence of the synthetic vitamin in blood. If mandatory fortification goes ahead on top of this widespread voluntary fortification it would undoubtedly exacerbate the levels.

The consequences of these low levels of unmetabolised folic acid in blood are currently unclear but Dr. Sweeney said that "the findings should be considered by those with responsibility for policy in this area".

To view the Irish Times article click here.