Vitamania: should we all be popping vitamin pills? – Science Weekly podcast

With almost half of British adults taking a daily vitamin,Graihagh Jackson and guests examine our love of supplements - including recent announcments about fortifying flour with folic acidAlmost half of adults in Britain take vitamins every day and wespend more on supplements than painkillers. This spring, the government will discuss whether to fortify flour with folic acid. The aim of the proposal is to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida by increasing folate intake in pregnant women.Graihagh Jackson looks atthe history of vitamins withDr Salim Al-Gailanifrom the University of Cambridge, discusses the forthcoming government debate withLinia Patel, a nutritionist and spokeswoman for theBritish Dietetic Association, and questions whether we really need to be popping these pills at all.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Food science Diets and dieting Health & wellbeing Source Type: news