Folic acid cuts congential heart defects 6%

A new study conducted by Canadian researchers shows that folic acid also decreases the incidence of congenital heart defects by more than 6%.

Since December 1998, all grain products sold in Canada have been  fortified with folic acid with 0.15mg of folate per 100g of flour.  Thanks to provincial databases, the researchers showed that the rate of  congenital heart defects between 1999 and 2005 was 1.47 per 1,000  births compared to 1.64 per 1,000 births between 1990 and 1999 for a  decrease of 6.2% per year after 1999.

Researchers are constantly assessing the beneficial effects of folic  acid on the various aspects of embryonic and infant development. Natural  sources of the vitamin, such as fruit or green vegetables, might not  provide sufficient doses for pregnant women. Most gynecologists  therefore recommend supplements in addition to a healthy diet rich in  folic acid.