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Justifying the “Folate trap” in folic acid fortification programs

  • Niraj N. Mahajan , Kshitija N. Mahajan , Rajani N. Soni and Nilima L. Gaikwad
Published/Copyright: May 4, 2007
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
From the journal Volume 35 Issue 3

Abstract

Many countries have now adopted fortification, where folic acid is added to flour and intended to benefit all with rise in blood folate level. During many transformations of folate from one form to another, a proportion is accidentally converted to N5-methyl-THF, an inactive metabolite, the so-called “folate trap”. Consideration should be given to including B12 as well as folic acid in any program of supplementation or food fortification to prevent NTDs. This is especially applicable to developing countries like India where the majority of women are vegetarians and have borderline levels of vitamin B12. Administration of [6S]-5-MTHF is more effective than is folic acid supplementation at improving folate status. Therefore, we urge to reconsider the “folate trap” in folic acid fortification programs.


Corresponding author: Dr. Niraj N. Mahajan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Padhar Hospital, Padhar Betul Madhya Pradesh India-460005 Tel.: +91-7141263046 Fax: +917141263346

Received: 2007-2-13
Accepted: 2007-2-28
Published Online: 2007-05-04
Published in Print: 2007-6-1

©2007 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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