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Grains Fortified With Folic Acid May Prevent Alzheimer's

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By JANE GLENN HAAS The Orange County (Calif.) Register

Published: February 5, 2008

Since 1999, all U.S. enriched cereal grain products, such as bread, pasta, flour, breakfast cereal and rice, have been required to be fortified with folic acid - the synthetic form of folate.

The purpose was to reduce birth defects, says Judith Reichman, a gynecologist and "Today" show medical specialist.

But since the Food and Drug Administration mandated the fortification, researchers have found a decrease in the prevalence of high levels of homocysteine, which is linked to heart disease, and a 3 percent per year reduction in mortality from strokes, she says.

And there's more.

A recent study uncovered evidence that fortified grains reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Reichman explains during this interview.

Let's go back to the beginning. How do I know whether grain products are fortified with folic acid?

Look on the square on the package: the list of what the food is made out of. Every time it is white bread, pastas, tortillas, it will say "fortified grains."

I first tell everybody to read the labels.

A lot of individuals feel whole grains and whole wheat have more folic acid and B vitamins. Not true. They have about half as much.

So how much folic acid do people need to ingest?

You get folic acid from the fortified grains, from green leafy vegetables and spinach, among other foods. You can't overdo folic acid. For the study just completed by Columbia University, the level was 400 micrograms daily.

What did the study discover?

It followed 965 people for six years, and those who had the highest intake of folate from both dietary and supplements were associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Does it cure the disease?

There is no cure; however, the research suggests a nutrient-rich diet containing folic acid and other B vitamins may help preserve memory.

You are suggesting we all start eating more carbs? I thought we should avoid carbs?

You and I both know the way you lose weight is to eat fewer calories. But researchers have found that levels of folate in the U.S. population decreased in the last few years because people are staying away from carbs. What makes you lose weight is diminishing calories, not whether you have one type of food or another.

So just eating fortified grains can help us avoid Alzheimer's and vascular diseases, such as stroke?

That's why I enjoy a bagel in the morning, a sandwich later and pasta.

Carbs in moderation, right?

Of course.

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