Folic Acid Fortification of Wheat Flour: Chile

Hertrampf, Eva; Cortés, Fanny

doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2004.tb00074.x

Cited by 90 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, women like the participants in our study comprise the group that fortification programs were designed to benefit. Our documentation of a large post- versus pre-fortification difference in folate status among OCPP participants adds importantly to the argument that a reduction in NTD occurrence post-fortification observed in Brazil [15] and other countries [11, 23–25] was mediated by a dramatic increase in folate status and decline in folate deficiency among high-risk women. Improving folate status in women of child-bearing age may have other benefits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Folic Acid Fortification and Women’s Folate Levels in Selected Communities in Brazil - A First Look

Chakraborty

Nyarko

Goco

et al. 2014

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research

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Background Several countries have implemented a mandatory folic acid fortification of wheat flour and selected grain products to increase folate intake of reproductive-aged women. Brazil implemented a folic acid fortification program in 2004. No previous studies have examined folate differences among Brazilian women following the mandate. Objective We evaluate differences in serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations between two samples of women of childbearing age from selective communities in Brazil, one tested before (N=116) and the other after the mandate (N=240). Methods We compared baseline folate levels from women enrolled into a prevention study shortly before the fortification mandate was implemented, to baseline levels of women from the same communities enrolled in the same study shortly after fortification began. Participants were women enrolled in a folate supplementation clinical trial, at a hospital specialized in treating craniofacial anomalies in the city of Bauru from January 29, 2004 to April 27, 2005. We only compared baseline folate levels before the women received OCPP folic acid supplements. Results Women enrolled after the fortification mandate had higher means of serum folate (20.3 versus 11.2 nmol/L; p < 0.001) and RBC folate (368.3 versus 177.6 nmol/L; p < 0.001) than women enrolled before the mandate. Differences in folate levels between the two groups remained after adjusting for several co-variables. Conclusions The results suggest that serum and RBC folate levels among women of childbearing age have increased after implementing the folic acid fortification mandate in Brazil.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Folic Acid Fortification and Women’s Folate Levels in Selected Communities in Brazil - A First Look

Chakraborty

Nyarko

Goco

et al. 2014

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research

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“…Canada, South Africa, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil also have reported declines in NTDs (19%–55%) since the initiation of folic acid food fortification [33,34,35,36,41,42,43,44,45,46]. The magnitude of the decrease in NTD prevalence observed in each country has been dependent on a number of factors.…”

Section: Effect Of Mandatory Fortification Of Food With Folic Acidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Folic Acid Food Fortification—Its History, Effect, Concerns, and Future Directions

2011

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Periconceptional intake of folic acid is known to reduce a woman’s risk of having an infant affected by a neural tube birth defect (NTD). National programs to mandate fortification of food with folic acid have reduced the prevalence of NTDs worldwide. Uncertainty surrounding possible unintended consequences has led to concerns about higher folic acid intake and food fortification programs. This uncertainty emphasizes the need to continually monitor fortification programs for accurate measures of their effect and the ability to address concerns as they arise. This review highlights the history, effect, concerns, and future directions of folic acid food fortification programs.

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“…In Chile, a wheat flour folic acid fortification program showed an increase in blood folate levels [13] and a decrease in the risk of NTDs [14,15]. An ex-post economic evaluation of the program should provide useful information for policy makers in other countries where congenital malformations are an important cause of infant mortality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%