Professor Nicholas Wald
Professor of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, University College London and St Georges University of London
About this event
- Date and time Tue 25 Feb 2020 from 8:45am to 4:40pm
- Location Royal Society of Medicine
- Organised by Food and Health, Medical Genetics
The government is currently reviewing the results of a recent consultation 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 neural tube defects in foetuses by raising folate levels in women who could become pregnant but this 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.
Key speakers
Professor Michael Crawford
Director, Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, Imperial College, London
Professor Yves Menezo
London Fertility Associates, Harley Street, London and Laboratire Clement Paris
Dr Jaleel Miyan
Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience, University of Manchester
Agenda
View the programme
Registrations, tea and coffee
Session one: Evolution of preconception medicine
Chair: Dr John Nichols, Royal College of General Practitioners, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Surrey
Educate for conception: optimise health and ability, behaviour and happiness
Reverend Simon H House, Institution of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, International Society for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine - Child Health International
The case for mandatory folic acid fortification
Professor Nicholas Wald, Professor of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, University College London and St Georges University of London
Panel discussion
Tea and coffee break
Session two: Genetic factors in folate metabolism and infertility
Chair: Dr Sarah Rae, Consultant Rheumatologist, Bedford Hospital, President, Medical Genetics Section, Royal Society of Medicine
Folates and methyl donors in women infertility and during
Professor Yves Menezo, London Fertility Associates, Harley Street, London and Laboratoire Clement, Paris
A paternal effect of MTHFR SNPs on gametes and embryos
Dr Arthur Clement, London Fertility Associates and Laboratoire Clement, Harley Street, London
Panel discussion
Lunch
Session three: Current trends in preconception research
Dr Tatiana Christides, Senior Lecturer, University of Greenwich
Cerebral folate and cerebrospinal fluid: missing links in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions
Dr Jaleel Miyan, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience, University of Manchester
Folic acid fortification and other aspects of preconception care
Professor Michael Crawford, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
Panel discussion
Summary
Close of meeting
Location
Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole St, Marylebone, London, W1G 0AE, United Kingdom
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