Folic fortification and preconception care: Why? How much? When?

The UK government is currently consulting on plans to fortify flour and bread in the UK with folic acid. This meeting aims to review the field of human fertility issues in light of this proposal.

Folic acid fortification of flour and bread will significantly reduce the number of spina bifida conceptions but may have additional health implications, both positive and negative. We will look at how we should accommodate this change in policy, the issues raised by folic acid fortification, how these issues impact various medical disciplines and discuss whether other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12 or essential fatty acids, should be under consideration for food fortification.

We’ll also be exploring genetic factors, a new aspect of preconception medicine. We’ll discuss how genetic variants determine differences in how individuals metabolise folic acid, especially those referred for assisted conception, and how they can be successfully managed.

Meeting topics:

• Learn how to improve and update clinical preconception care
• Consider the long-term implications of folic acid fortification and how the process should be monitored
• Consider the potential effects of folic acid fortification on the general population, especially older subjects at risk of dementia
• The importance of genetic variants, such as the role of the T variants of the MTHFR gene in infertility, and know when it would be appropriate to test for this and similar genetic variants

These issues are relevant to public health doctors, general practitioners, gynaecologists and fertility clinic practitioners.

This meeting is jointly organised by the Food and Health Forum and Medical Genetics Section of the RSM.