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Author Topic: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk  (Read 983 times)

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Offline skyblue1

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Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« on: February 12, 2013, 10:15:29 PM »
Common vitamin supplement appears to dramatically reduce a woman's risk of having a child with autism.

A study of more than 85,000 women in Norway found that those who started taking folic acid before getting pregnant were about 40 percent less likely to have a child who developed the disorder, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"That's a huge effect," says Ian Lipkin, one of the study's authors and a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
Folic acid is the synthetic version of a B vitamin called folate.

It's found naturally in foods such as spinach, black-eyed peas and rice. Public health officials recommend that women who may become pregnant take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day to reduce the chance of having a child with spina bifida.

The link between folic acid and autism risk is especially striking because the supplement is so cheap and easy to get, Lipkin says. "The notion that a very simple, nontoxic food supplement could reduce your risk is profound," he says.

There are caveats, though. To get the full benefit, mothers had to start taking folic acid supplements four weeks before conceiving and keep taking them during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Risk reduction was also limited to severe autism, not milder forms such as Asperger's.

Despite public health campaigns urging women in the U.S. to take folic acid, many are still not taking the supplements when they become pregnant. That may be because spina bifida and related birth defects are quite rare.

"But when you start talking about autism, a disorder that has an incidence of 1 percent or higher, that really does bring it to home," Lipkin says. "That is a substantial risk."
In the U.S. some foods are fortified with folic acid. Yet women often do not get enough folate through diet alone, Lipkin says, even if they eat a lot of healthful foods.

"I have nothing at all against green vegetables and beans," he says. "But you only absorb about half of the dietary folate that you take in."

The study of Norwegian mothers is the biggest one so far to link folic acid to a reduced risk of autism, though smaller studies have reached a similar conclusion.

"This study is reassuring that folic acid supplementation not only is safe but actually decreases the rate of autism," says Susan Hyman, a professor of pediatrics at the Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester.

The study also offers a reminder that brain disorders are often linked to events that take place soon after conception. "Those very first weeks to months of brain development that can provide long-lasting differences in neurologic function," she says

Previous studies have found that factors including obesity and diabetes can also influence a mother's risk of having a child with autism, Hyman says.

Women who may become pregnant should eat a balanced diet, exercise, decrease stress and take supplements containing folic acid "so they can have the healthiest baby possible," she says.


http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/...utism-risk


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Offline Queen Victoria

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2013, 10:24:52 PM »
1)  Maybe Dads should take it before pregnancy too.  I suspect sperm health may be helped by proper nutrition too.

2)  While I welcome studies like this, they do bring to mind the "Frigid Mother" cause for autism.  I sincerely hope they do find a way to minimize the number of children born with severe autism.
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Offline Jack

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2013, 05:48:20 PM »
It's common practice for pregnant women, or those trying to conceive, to be advised to take prenatal vitamins. Folic acid, calcium, and iron being the key components.

Offline El

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2013, 07:43:29 PM »
It's common practice for pregnant women, or those trying to conceive, to be advised to take prenatal vitamins. Folic acid, calcium, and iron being the key components.
Yes but now it's about AUTISM
it is well known that PMS Elle is evil.
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Offline odeon

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2013, 12:36:55 AM »
Prenatal affirmative Jenny McCarthy action? :GA:
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Offline 'andersom'

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2013, 07:24:28 AM »
Autism will be just another reason added to the list of why you should get folic acid the moment you even think about getting pregnant.
Here the supplement is already very heavily pushed, for decades. It will not change much, not in my country.
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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2013, 10:29:04 AM »
Autism will be just another reason added to the list of why you should get folic acid the moment you even think about getting pregnant.
Here the supplement is already very heavily pushed, for decades. It will not change much, not in my country.

Here too, to prevent neural tube defects.  Pretty much all that the March of Dimes does.

Offline RageBeoulve

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2013, 01:33:13 PM »
Autism RISK. Lmao.
"I’m fearless in my heart.
They will always see that in my eyes.
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Offline Calavera

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2013, 06:54:58 AM »
Yeah, that one was funny.

Offline El

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2013, 06:59:24 AM »
Common vitamin supplement appears to dramatically reduce a woman's risk of having a child with autism.
Yes, but is it more or less effective at prevention than condoms?
it is well known that PMS Elle is evil.
I think you'd fit in a 12" or at least a 16" firework mortar
You win this thread because that's most unsettling to even think about.

Offline 'andersom'

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2013, 08:23:13 AM »
Common vitamin supplement appears to dramatically reduce a woman's risk of having a child with autism.
Yes, but is it more or less effective at prevention than condoms?

Less, but, condoms also prevent the wanted things like legs and eyes.
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Offline odeon

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2013, 03:50:54 AM »
Autism RISK. Lmao.

What's funny about it?
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Offline RageBeoulve

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2013, 11:06:07 AM »
Autism RISK. Lmao.

What's funny about it?

I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure its just genetic mutation. Kind of like blue eyes, or really tall or short people. Autism RISK made me giggle a bit because I think its an unavoidable thing.
"I’m fearless in my heart.
They will always see that in my eyes.
I am the passion; I am the warfare.
I will never stop...
always constant, accurate, and intense."

  - Steve Vai, "The Audience is Listening"

Offline odeon

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2013, 11:07:55 AM »
Autism RISK. Lmao.

What's funny about it?

I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure its just genetic mutation. Kind of like blue eyes, or really tall or short people. Autism RISK made me giggle a bit because I think its an unavoidable thing.

There's most likely a genetic factor in it, yes, but I think environmental factors play a role, too.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

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Offline RageBeoulve

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Re: Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2013, 11:14:18 AM »
I wish this could be isolated so we'd know for sure.
"I’m fearless in my heart.
They will always see that in my eyes.
I am the passion; I am the warfare.
I will never stop...
always constant, accurate, and intense."

  - Steve Vai, "The Audience is Listening"