Ascorbic acid fortification is usually limited to sealed, dried foods, but individuals can easily take ascorbic acid with a basic iron supplement for the same benefits.

Impact of folic acid fortification.

Folic acid fortification remains an urgent health priority.

Deficiency of folate in pregnant women has been implicated in neural tube defects (NTD); therefore, many developed countries have implemented mandatory folic acid fortification in cereals, etc.

Folic acid fortification is a process in which where folic acid is added to flour with the intention of promoting a public health through increasing blood folate levels in the public.

A seven-province study from 1993 to 2002 showed a reduction of 46% in the overall rate of neural tube defects after folic acid fortification was introduced in Canada.

Taken together, folic acid fortification has led to a bigger increase in folic acid intake than first projected.

The government required folic acid fortification in 1998, after efforts to persuade women of childbearing age to take folic acid supplements had not led to a decrease in the defects.

Thanks to better screening, public health information campaigns, and folic acid fortification of breads and other grain products,...

"Although this is a high-quality study," she continued, "it needs to be repeated in other populations like in the U.S., where there is already folic acid fortification."