FRIENDS tell me they were alarmed by the Swedish findings that pregnant women
taking folic acid supplements to cut the risk of birth defects may be more
likely to have twins. What’s more, according to New Scientist, twins
have an increased risk of developing birth defects
(28 July, p 3
and p 7). The
researchers’ conclusion that sometimes the health risks of taking folic acid
tablets may be greater than those of not taking them is very worrying.
Hazel Blears, the new junior health minister, told me that the Department of
Health and the Food Standards Agency held a…
