Miller Magazine Issue 146 February 2022

68 COVER STORY MILLER / FEBRUARY 2022 Pre-natal nutrition plays a critical role in supporting healthier futures for babies and children across the globe. While many of the most widely consumed foods – such as flour, rice, and oil – support an adequate calorie intake, they lose vital vita- mins and minerals during processing. The consequence of this is that millions of people around the world who rely on staple foods lack access to the micronutrients – like folic acid – needed to support optimal levels of health and develop- ment. The effects are particularly prominent in newborn ba- bies, who are at increased risk of life-threatening birth defects if the folate status of the mother is low during pregnancy. In- deed, undernutrition and folate deficiency are global issues – poor folate status is commonly observed both in low- and middle-income countries, but also in some of the world’s wealthiest nations. So, how can fortification help to reduce the risk of folate deficiency and ensure babies are born healthy? FOLIC ACID: A VITAL BUILDING BLOCK IN PRE-NATAL NUTRITION Adequate consumption of folic acid, which occurs naturally as folate or vitamin B9, is essential for consumers of all ages across the globe. In women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, it is especially important as the nutrient plays a critical role in preventing babies from developing neural tube defects (NTDs). NTDs can lead to conditions such as spina bifida, where spinal tissue herniates outside the body, and anencephaly, where there is an absence of brain in the top part of the skull. These condi- tions occur in roughly 1 in 1,000 pregnancies per year in the UK alone. 1 Both can greatly decrease the quality and length of life, with many babies who are diagnosed with anencephaly either being delivered stillborn or dying shortly after birth. While a balanced diet of leafy greens and pulses is usually sufficient to maintain healthy folate levels, a higher intake is typically required during pregnancy. 2 However, in the UK a recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) found that 90% of women of childbearing age have a poor folate status, meaning that if they fell pregnant their baby would be at an increased risk of developing NTDs. 3 In the UK, women are advised to consume 400mg of folic acid per day for a month before conception and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy via the ingestion of folate supplements. 4 However, with un- planned pregnancies accounting for 50% of all pregnancies in the UK per year and awareness of the importance of folic acid remaining low, there is a likelihood that voluntary supple- mentation is not the most effective tool in preventing folate “Adequate consumption of folic acid, which occurs naturally as folate or vitamin B9, is essential for consumers of all ages across the globe. It is vital that millers, brand owners, private sector part- ners, governments, donors and NGOs work together to find and implement long-term solutions to combat folate deficiency and subsequently improve pre-natal health – allowing even the most vulnerable across the globe access to a brighter future.” Folic acid fortification: The key to supporting pre-natal nutrition? Yannick Foing Global Director Nutrition Improvement DSM