from the desk of Ted Duboise
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has updated its 1996 recommendation that all women planning or capable of pregnancy take a daily supplement containing 0.4 to 0.8 mg (400 to 800 µg) of folic acid. (A recommendation) The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on folic acid supplementation in women of childbearing age published since its previous review. The USPSTF did not review evidence on folic acid food fortification, counseling to increase dietary intake or screening for neural tube defects.
The recommendation is published in the May 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsnrfol.htm.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is the leading independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care. The Task Force, which is supported by AHRQ, conducts rigorous, impartial assessments of the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of a broad range of clinical preventive services, including screening, counseling, and preventive medications. Its recommendations are considered the gold standard for clinical preventive services.
Interestingly enough, another government agency does not approve of the above statements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has this to say:
Claim Statement
0.8 mg folic acid in a dietary supplement is more effective in reducing the risk of neural tube defects than a lower amount in foods in common form. FDA does not endorse this claim. Public health authorities recommend that women consume 0.4 mg folic acid daily from fortified foods or dietary supplements or both to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
Eligible Foods
Dietary supplements containing folic acid
Factors
The disclaimer (i.e., FDA does not endorse this claim…) is placed immediately adjacent to and directly beneath the claim (i.e., 0.8 mg folic acid …), with no intervening material, in the same size, typeface, and contrast as the claim.
The claim meets all 21 CFR 101.14 general health claim requirements, except for the requirements that the claim meet the significant scientific agreement standard and be made in accordance with an authorizing regulation.
Note: there also is a folic acid/neural tube defect health claim authorized by regulation (see 21 CFR 101.79).
