News broke today that
the Government´s
Food Advisory Body (the Food Standards Agency) may recommend that folic
acid be added to white bread, to reduce the risk of birth defects.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have already been awarded
funding by the Food Standards Agency to investigate the role of folic
acid (a B vitamin) in reducing heart disease risk. The team´s findings
will help the Food Standards Agency decide whether or not to recommend
adding folic acid to foods to reduce heart disease.
The grant, in excess of one million pounds, is run jointly by the University
of Sheffield and the Institute of Food Research at Norwich. The funding
will allow researchers to perform an important and definitive study investigating
the effects of folate on heart disease.
Folate is a generic term for a group of compounds found naturally in
the diet. High levels of folate can be found in everyday foods such as
green leafy vegetables, chips, beans, liver and even beer. Folic acid,
however is the synthetic form of folate and is used to fortify foods
and vitamin supplements. Folic acid is used when planning a pregnancy
to reduce the risk of birth defects. There is also evidence that folate
may help to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer´s
disease.
It is already well known that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may
reduce the risk of heart disease. The aim of the new study is to determine
whether folate derived from the diet is better than folate obtained from
a synthetic capsule (folic acid) at reducing markers associated with
heart disease. The results will help the Food Standards Agency decide
whether or not to recommend adding folic acid to foods to reduce heart
disease.
The study, based at the Northern General Hospital Sheffield, will aim
to recruit 200 members of the public reflecting the diverse population
of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The volunteers will be asked to consume
everyday foods high in folate (delivered free to your door) or a folic
acid tablet for sixteen weeks. The study will measure a comprehensive
range of relevant heart disease blood markers.
News
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issues, but not to endorse
any particular view
or activity. The views stated in the article above are not necessarily
those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
by the University of Sheffield (UK) on 5 April 2006.
For further information, please visit
their website
using the
link below.
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