The Department of Health announced on Tuesday that it was launching a consultation on the mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal flour with folic acid in a bid to reduce the prevalence of neural tube defects in Ireland.The consultation will hear from members of the public as well as those who work in the industry to form the policy and legislation going forward. But what is folic acid and why is this proposal being evaluated? Folic acid is the man-made version of the vitamin folate, also known as vitamin B9.There are a number of benefits to taking the supplement, but the main one is the reduction in neural tube defects in unborn children. According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), folic acid is used to treat or prevent folate deficiency anaemia, which impacts how well a person’s red blood cells work, as well as helping the unborn baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop properly during pregnancy – this helps to avoid conditions such as spina bifida.Ireland has a higher-than-average rate of occurrence of neural tube defects compared to the rest of Europe. Research has shown that sufficient folic acid intake can prevent up to two-thirds of these defects. Women typically cannot get enough folic acid through diet alone, so fortified foods and folic acid supplements are needed to help reach the required levels.Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, said it is hoped to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in the future by “increasing dietary intake of foods which have been fortified with folic acid, and by encouraging folic acid supplementation”.Current health advice recommends that all women who can get pregnant should take a 400 micrograms (mcg) folic acid supplement every day, even if they are not currently trying to conceive. If a woman is pregnant or trying for a baby, it is advised that they take folic acid until they are 12 weeks pregnant as it helps the baby grow normally. Folic acid is absorbed very quickly in the gut once taken, though if a person is taking it due to anaemia it may be a few weeks before they start to feel better. If a woman is taking it because she is pregnant, she is unlikely to feel any different, but that does not mean it is not working.The supplement is available on prescription and comes as tablets, but can also be bought in lower-dose tablets from pharmacies and supermarkets.According to the HSE, people are unlikely to get side effects from taking folic acid. There are no reported serious adverse effects to men taking folic acid in normal doses, such as those that would be added to flour.However, some women taking supplements have reported feeling sick, losing their appetite, getting wind or feeling bloated. These side effects are usually mild and do not last long.Some medicines interfere with the way folic acid works. If someone is on any other medicines or supplements, they are advised to check with their GP, a pharmacist or nurse before starting.