英国政府宣布，将把叶酸添加到英国面粉中，以帮助预防婴儿的先天性脊柱缺陷。

Women are already advised to take folic acid before and during pregnancy, but many don’t. It’s important because getting enough of this B vitamin cuts the risk of a baby being born with spina bifida or other neural tube defects.

早已有专家建议女性在孕前和孕期服用叶酸，但许多人并未照做。这其实很重要，因为摄入足量这种 B 族维生素可以降低婴儿出生时患脊柱裂和其它神经管缺陷的风险。

Mandatory fortification will mean everyone eating foods like bread in the UK, will get a dose. There was a concern that for some people, particularly the elderly, boosting folic acid might have unintended negative consequences, such as covering up the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

强制加强叶酸摄入意味着在英国，每个吃面包等食物的人都会摄入一定的剂量。有人担心，对于一些人，特别是老年人来说，增加叶酸摄入量可能会产生意想不到的负面后果，比如可能会掩盖维生素 B12缺乏症的症状。

But the government’s independent advisory body has looked at all the evidence and is satisfied fortification is the right thing to do.

但英国政府的独立咨询机构已经研究了所有证据，并认为加强叶酸摄入是正确的决策。