Folate, Folic Acid, and Health

Date of publication: December 1999

Although many aspects of infant health continue to show improvement in a number of developed and developing countries, birth defects remain major causes of infant mortality and morbidity.

For example, in New Zealand the infant mortality rate between 1987 and 1996 declined from 10.1 per 1,000 livebirths to 7.3 per 1,000 livebirths.

However, the proportion of infant deaths due to birth defects remained at 24%.

This report reached the following conclusions:

• Current scientific evidence fully supports the health benefits of fortifying breads with folic acid

• There is clear evidence that periconceptional consumption of adequate amounts of folate/folic acid prevents NTDs. There is accumulating research that the risk of other birth defects and health outcomes is also reduced by folic acid

• The Food Regulations permit the voluntarily fortification of bread with folic acid up to the level of 285mg/100g

• There is no current scientific evidence of toxic effects from consuming too much folic acid via any diet, supplementation, or fortification

• NZ women in the reproductive age group have low levels of folate

• It is extremely unlikely that individuals in NZ will consume an excess of folic acid either through diet, supplementation or fortification

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