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30 Years is Long Enough
Today, Tuesday 20th July 2021 marks 30 years since the UK Medical Research Council’s funded research was published, showing that supplementing the diets of women before, and during, the early stages of pregnancy with folic acid substantially reduced the chance of that pregnancy being affected by Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland have long lobbied for the fortification of flour with folic acid and on this, the 30th anniversary of crucial research being published, we, alongside Shine, the spina bifida and hydrocephalus charity that works across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have written to Ministers across the UK asking when an announcement on the 2019 UK Government consultation will be given.
Since the publication of this report in 1991, there have been ongoing recommendations for mandatory fortification of appropriate staple foodstuffs with folic acid. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), has repeatedly recommended fortification of flour with folic acid. In 2017 Food Standards Scotland advised that fortification should be undertaken with a joint approach across the UK and following this a joint letter was sent from the Scottish and Welsh governments to the then UK Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, urging him to take action and introduce mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid on a UK wide basis.
A UK- Government consultation on mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid concluded in September 2019 and an announcement on the outcome has yet to be made.
The on-going delay in introducing this measure has led, and will continue to lead, to stillbirths, neonatal deaths, disability and avoidable terminations of pregnancy, as well as thousands of individuals facing a lifetime of complex and severe, yet avoidable, health and lifestyle challenges (which also incurs a massive financial implication on the already burdened NHS resources).
From September onwards, after parliamentary recess, SBH Scotland and SHINE will be supported by UK and Ireland’s medical royal colleges, doctors and medical students, dieticians and people whose lives have been affected by spina bifida and anencephaly in attempting to push this up the political agenda and would welcome any support you can give us in sharing our message across our social media channels.
The need for government action is long overdue. The continuous occurrence of preventable birth defects is a tragedy that should no longer be tolerated.
For further information or to discuss involvement in the fortification campaign please contact Clare Cogan Turner, Communications Manager via EMAIL
Find out more about our campaign to date.
New stats reveal 91% of UK women have insufficient folate levels to support a reduction in neural tube defects
A study carried out on behalf of Public Health England and the Food Standards Agency which has been published today (16 March 2018), has revealed as many as 91% of women of childbearing age (16 – 49) in the UK are at increased risk of a neural tube defect (NTD) affected pregnancy due to a folic acid deficiency.
Folic
acid has been found to be essential in the reduction of NTDs such as spina bifida in unborn babies. The
report, which assessed the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the
general population, supports this by stating that increased folic acid intake
through supplementation has been shown to reduce the risk of pregnancies
affected by NTDs, if taken before birth.
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) has long advocated for the fortification of flour with folic acid to help reduce the number of NTDs. The charity welcomes the findings and calls on the UK Government to take steps to introduce legislation which makes fortification of flour with folic acid mandatory.
Chief Executive of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland Andy Wynd MBE said; “With this report finding there’s a further increase (91%) in the number of women in the UK not receiving the adequate levels of folic acid, it again supports our ongoing calls for the mandatory fortification of flour.
“Foods such as lentils and dark green vegetables produce naturally high levels of folate, and it is already added to some foods, including breakfast cereals. However, it is through the fortification of flour where the real benefits are seen, with other countries recording up to 70% reduction in NTD pregnancies following the mandatory fortification process.
“We believe flour fortification would produce similar results in the UK and with overwhelming evidence to support it, we, once again, ask the UK Government to make fortification of flour a reality.”
Scotland specific issues
Scotland has more live births per head of population with spina bifida than anywhere else in the UK. Possibly due to religious and cultural differences, only 45% of pregnancies are terminated in Scotland as compared with around 80% in the rest of the UK.
Taking daily folic acid supplements, at the correct recommended dose* (0.4mg) three months prior to conception, could reduce up to 70% of these pregnancies from being affected and lower both the number of those born with the condition and the number of pregnancies terminated.
Children born with spina bifida often have paralysis in the lower limbs, urological, neurological and orthopedic problems which often become more significant throughout life. Fortification of flour would reduce the number of babies born with this lifelong disability. Find out more about folic acid and flour fortification on the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland website www.sbhscotland.org.uk/folic-acid
*Some females have an increased risk of a pregnancy being affected by an NTD and should be taking a higher dosage of folic Acid
Find out more about our flour fortification campaign
Summary of results from National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme.
Those affected by any of the issues associated with spina bifida or hydrocephalus, can call the SBH Scotland Family Support Service helpline on 03455 211 300 or email them.
UK Government urged to add folic acid to flour after new study
A study published in Public Health Reviews has revealed previous data showing the set upper limit of folate was flawed. The experts involved are now urging the Department of Health to approve the fortification of flour with folic acid in order to help reduce neural tube defects (NTD), such as spina bifida, in unborn babies.
This follows the Scottish and Welsh Governments recently writing joint letters to the UK Health Secretary urging him to make the fortification of flour with folic acid mandatory on a UK wide basis.
Recent figures show folate levels in Scotland are particularly low compared to international standards. In Scotland, 81% of women of childbearing age are more at risk of an NTD affected pregnancy because they don’t have enough folic acid – which is 6% higher than the UK as a whole.
Chief Executive of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland Andy Wynd MBE said; “We welcome this new evidence published in the Public Health Reviews which shows there is no medical reason to stop folic acid being added to flour. As a charity we have long advocated for mandatory flour fortification in order to reduce the number of children born with neural tube defects such as spina bifida. In light of this new evidence, we believe the UK Government should be actively taking steps to introduce legislation to ensure that mandatory fortification of flour becomes a reality in the UK.”
“In Scotland, the issue of flour fortification is particularly relevant as more children are born with spina bifida than anywhere else in the UK. Flour fortification in other countries has resulted in up to 70% reductions in pregnancies according to recent studies and we believe this would produce similar results in Scotland.”
Scotland specific issues
Scotland has more live births per head of population with spina bifida than anywhere else in the UK. Possibly due to religious and cultural differences, only 45% of pregnancies are terminated in Scotland as compared with 80% in the rest of the UK.
Taking daily folic acid supplements, at the correct recommended dose (0.4mg) three months prior to conception, could reduce up to 70% of these pregnancies from being affected and lower both the number of those born with the condition and the number of pregnancies terminated.
Children born with spina bifida often have paralysis in the lower limbs, urological, neurological and orthopedic problems which often become more significant throughout life. Fortification of flour would reduce the number of babies born with this lifelong disability. Find out more about folic acid and flour fortification on the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland website www.sbhscotland.org.uk/folic-acid
Parents in Scotland are offered impartial and non-judgmental advice by SBH Scotland to enable them to make informed decisions about their pregnancy. Whatever their final decision, SBH Scotland will always be there for support and advice whenever needed. Those affected by any of the issues associated with spina bifida or hydrocephalus, can call the SBH Scotland Family Support Service helpline on 03455 211 300, email: support@sbhscotland.org.uk or visit www.sbhscotland.org.uk
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