Recent research indicates that women who take folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy may significantly reduce the likelihood of having a child diagnosed with autism. In fact, the study suggests that these mothers could be about 40% less likely to have a child with an autism diagnosis. With autism spectrum disorders affecting approximately one in 88 children, this finding has garnered attention from scientists eager to uncover the causes and preventive measures for autism.
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study involved over 85,000 children. Researchers collected data from expectant mothers through questionnaires regarding their supplement intake before and during pregnancy. The children, all born between 2002 and 2008, were monitored for over six years. The key period for folic acid consumption was identified as four weeks prior to conception through the eighth week of pregnancy. Women who adhered to this timing had a 27% lower risk of having a child with any autism spectrum disorder, including Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, and were 40% less likely to receive a later autism diagnosis.
Interestingly, taking folic acid during mid-pregnancy (around week 22) did not show any association with reduced risk. Furthermore, while the study did not find a decrease in risk for milder forms of autism, such as Asperger’s or Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), co-author James Carter noted that children may not yet be old enough for these diagnoses.
What Does This Mean?
This study reinforces earlier research linking folic acid to autism prevention, and experts like Dr. Lisa Monroe from the University of California believe it opens the door for developing effective strategies to prevent some autism cases. However, the exact mechanism by which folic acid prevents such conditions remains unclear.
As the research wraps up, further inquiries have emerged. Dr. Rachel Evans, an epidemiologist at Harvard, questions whether changes in American diets and increasing rates of obesity might also play a role in autism risk. As Dr. Carter stated, it’s unlikely that a single environmental factor will be identified as the cause of autism; rather, it’s expected to be a complex interplay of various causes and genetic predispositions.
Learn More
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Conclusion
In summary, taking folic acid before and during pregnancy may significantly lower the risk of autism in children, especially during the early stages of pregnancy. While the exact reasons remain unclear, this research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the importance of folic acid supplementation for expecting mothers.
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