Folic Acid associated with Lower Risk of Autism

It is generally recommended that women who are planning to become pregnant take a daily folic acid supplement. Taking folic acid has been associated with a reduced risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. A new study examined whether there was an association between a mother’s taking folic acid before and after becoming pregnant and a child’s risk of developing autism. “Mothers who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy had a 40% reduction in the risk of having children with autism.” Dr. Pål Surén and co-authors studied several thousand mothers and children participating in a population based study.  Mothers were asked to record all dietary supplements taken before and during pregnancy. After their children were born, researchers analyzed those data and data about those children who developed autism. “This provides an additional reason to take folic acid supplements and it underlines the importance of starting early before the pregnancy has started.”  The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.