OBJECTIVE A significant decline in the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) through food fortification has been reported. Questions remain, however, about the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing the gap in prevalence across socioeconomic status (SES). STUDY DESIGN Using health number and through record linkage, children born in Ontario hospitals between 1994 and 2009 were follow...

Micronutrient deficiencies are a significant cause of malnutrition worldwide, particularly in developing countries, affecting nearly 1.8 billion people worldwide. Agriculture is the primary source nutrients for humans, but increasing population and reducing arable lands areas putting agricultural sector under pressure, less developed calls intensive farming to increase crop yield overcome food ...

More than 2 billion individuals globally suffer some degree of deficiency of one or more micronutrients, with the largest numbers in Africa and Asia. Fortification of foods with vitamins and minerals is a proven public health intervention. In Asia, salt iodization, fortified flour and condiments such as fish sauce and soy sauce are reaching hundreds of millions. However, many individuals still ...

My last column addressed folic acid and its benefits for pregnant women and their offspring. Specifically, the column focused on: a) folate for women at childbearing age and folate’s role in preventing both neural tube defects and other fetal abnormalities and learning and behavior problems in the offspring, and b) the possible benefits of folic acid for cancer prevention. This article continue...

The beneficial effects of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFAs), i.e., eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoicacids (EPA and DHA), on human health have been well documented [1]. Beneficial health effects of omega-3 LC PUFA intake are well demonstrated for prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, as well as in the improvement of a proper development and functioning of...

Determining the micronutrient contents infortified foods depends not only on the health goal (additional intake to complement the diet), but also on ensuring that fortification does not raise micronutrient intakes beyond the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), i.e., the safe limit. Technological incompatibility and cost may also restrict the fortification contents. For folic acid, the limiting f...