A maternal deficiency in vitamin B9, also called folic acid or folate, may be responsible for neural tube defects (NFTN) in the fetus. This concerns one pregnancy in 1,000 in France. The neural tube develops to become the brain and spinal cord of the unborn child. The anomalies occur during the first month after conception and result in incomplete development of the spinal column or even an absence of cranial vault. AFTN can lead to nerve damage, learning disabilities, paralysis and even death.
To prevent these fetal anomalies, an intake of 600 micrograms per day of vitamin B9 is necessary at least 4 weeks before conception and up to 12 weeks of amenorrhea. This is why it is important to discuss your pregnancy plan with a health professional who will prescribe vitamin B9 supplementation. However, according to a national perinatal survey conducted in 2021, only 28.3% of women supplemented with folic acid before pregnancy. And according to the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES), this proportion deteriorates with social inequalities: studies show that the younger the mothers are and the lower their level of education, the less they declare having started to take vitamin B9 before their pregnancy.
Flour, in economically accessible products
In order to improve prevention, ANSES, contacted by the General Directorate of Health, recommends in an opinion made public on Thursday December 19, a systematic enrichment of folic acid at 200 µg/100 g of wheat, white and wholemeal flours. . In 2023, the World Health Organization was already encouraging all states to implement it. And in countries which did not wait for the recommendation of the world health body, a reduction in risks was actually observed, notes ANSES.
« Wheat flour was chosen as the food to be enriched for two reasons: it is an ingredient used in many commonly consumed products (breads, biscuits, etc.) and these products are economically accessible for all. women targeted », says Vincent Bitane, scientific coordinator of the expertise. In France, a socio-economic evaluation of the strategy of systematically enriching foodstuffs with folic acid and in particular a consultation of the stakeholders concerned still needs to be carried out.
Where to find vitamin B9 in food?
If the measure were applied, it would not replace but complement the recommendations for vitamin B9 supplementation from the time of pregnancy. In addition to food supplements, folic acid is found in food:
- fruits and vegetables; more specifically spinach, salads, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, green beans, zucchini, peas, asparagus, avocados, melons, red fruits, citrus fruits, bananas;
- unsalted nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios): a small handful per day;
- starchy foods (rice, pasta, semolina, bread, etc.): prefer whole foods because they are much richer in fiber than refined products.
- dried vegetables; especially lentils, split peas and broad beans;
- dairy products and in particular white rind cheeses (camembert, brie, etc.), blue-veined cheeses (blue) and cottage cheese.
ANSES therefore recommends raising health professionals’ awareness of the prevention of AFTN among women of childbearing age and informing them of the importance of a diet rich in vitamin B9.
Source : Anses, Canada.ca, MSD Manuals
