Any woman who might become pregnant should either eat specially fortified foods or take a vitamin supplement of folic acid every day to protect against birth defects, a panel of experts said Tuesday.
Also, all Americans over age 50 should eat a bowl of fortified cereal every day or take a supplement of Vitamin B12, a nutrient important for making blood cells but one that declines with age, said the Institute of Medicine report.
The new recommendations mean “in a country where the top two vegetables are french fries and iceberg lettuce . . . people need to make better food choices,” said Chris Rosenbloom, a Georgia State University nutrition professor representing the American Dietetic Association.
But the review of complex B vitamins– including folic acid, B12, B6, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin–cautions against popping huge doses. There’s not enough evidence that large amounts protect against heart disease or cancer to urge that Americans eat more, the experts said, and they recommended setting the first “maximum doses” for four nutrients to protect against side effects.
