Folic Acid Supplementation Advice for Pregnancy Planning and Early Pregnancy

Published: 27/11/24

In September 2021, the four UK Governments announced the intention to mandate the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid on a UK-wide basis to reduce the number of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) in foetuses.  Legislation is now being laid and the food industry has until December 2026 to fully implement these changes. 

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Currently, UK guidelines recommend that women who could become pregnant take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid before conception and up until the 12th week of pregnancy to reduce the risk of NTD-affected pregnancies. This advice will continue following the fortification of flour with folic acid. Fortification of flour with folic acid is intended as a population measure to support, not replace, current supplementation advice for individuals. 

As health professionals you should continue to promote the importance of folic acid supplementation directly to women of child-bearing age through existing communication channels, including face to face interactions.  

Additional information on this topic can be found by clicking the button below.

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