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Written question asked by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 July 2015. It was answered by Lord Prior of Brampton (Conservative) on Friday, 24 July 2015 on behalf of the Department of Health.


Flour: Folic Acid

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, when considering the issue of fortification of flour with folic acid, they plan to take into account the distinction between folic acid and methylfolate, and the gut’s role in converting folic acid and food folate to methylfolate.

Answer

In its 2006 report ‘Folate and Disease Prevention’ the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition concluded that overall there was insufficient data in humans to assess the long term effects of exposure to unmetabolised folic acid as a result of the limited capacity of the gut to convert folic acid into methylfolate (or 5-methyl tetrahydrofolic acid).


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1483
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Additives Flour Folic acid
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk