Initial results of a recent study revealed that eating high doses of folic acid during the first three months of pregnancy does not pose any risks to the health of the mother or the fetus, but may have a positive effect in promoting verbal capabilities and behavioral skills in children at the age of six. These results come, contrary to what some previous studies indicated that have warned of the risks of taking high doses of folic acid during pregnancy.
The study was conducted by researchers in the United States from Stanford University, the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the UNICE Kennedy Charrever National Institute for Children’s Health and Human Development, and its results will be presented at the 77th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neuroscience to be held next April in Saint Diego and online, and wrote the “Yoric Alier” website.
The results showed that children whose mothers took folic acid during the first months of pregnancy obtained higher degrees in verbal and behavioral skills tests compared to their peers whose mothers did not take a nutritional supplement. The study did not show any risks associated with high doses, and this provides reassurance to mothers about the possibility of using higher levels of folic acid when needed.
Folic acid is one of the forms of vitamin B. It is also called folate, and is found naturally in some foods such as leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes. However, these natural resources may not provide sufficient amount for pregnant women, which requires the use of nutritional supplements.
Folic acid recommendations for a pregnant woman
Women generally recommend eating 0.4 milligrams of folic acid daily, starting from pregnancy planning to the first weeks of pregnancy, for its effective role in reducing the risk of birth defects in the nervous system in the fetus. It may be recommended in higher doses in some medical cases, such as women with epilepsy or who have an birth defect, to ensure healthy fetus growth. However, the optimal dose that achieves the best benefits without risk is still not clear yet.
“Studies have previously indicated that folic acid during pregnancy may help reduce birth defects and improve the mental capabilities of children, but there was no clear agreement on its optimal dose,” says Dr. Kimford Midour, the main researcher in this study and professor at the Department of Neurology and Neurology at Stanford University of American and the American Academy of Neuroscience.
He added: “Our new study confirms that eating folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy is related to improving brain health in children, with no evidence of negative effects when taking high doses of it.”
Who is the most interactive child?
The study was conducted on 345 children at the age of six, including 262 children for epilepsy mothers and 83 children for mothers who are not infected. The amount of folic acid that mothers took during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, then divided the children into 5 groups based on the dose that their mothers received, as follows:
- Children whose mothers did not eat folic acid.
- Children whose mothers took 0.4 milligrams per day or less.
- Children whose mothers consumed more than 0.4 to 1.0 milligrams per day.
- Children whose mothers consumed more than 1.0 to 4.0 milligrams per day.
- Children whose mothers took more than 4.0 milligrams per day.
Children in the study underwent various tests to measure their verbal skills, such as the word recognition test and the description of images. Asds were also presented to their parents to assess children’s behavior, such as communication skills, social interaction, and the ability to perform daily tasks.
After analyzing the data, the researchers found that children whose mothers took folic acid during pregnancy have achieved higher results in verbal and behavioral skills tests compared to their peers whose mothers did not get. The results also showed a rapprochement in the levels of children whose mothers took folic acid, regardless of the dose taken, whether high or low, and this indicates that high doses do not pose a threat to their nervous growth.
These results are reassured about pregnant women about the possibility of using higher levels of folic acid when needed, but more studies are still needed.
“While some previous studies have indicated that there are potential risks with high doses of folic acid, the results of our study are reassuring, but we need more research to determine the ideal dose for each group of women,” says Dr. Medor.
The decision to determine the doses always remains in the hands of the doctor, to ensure the maximum benefit of the mother and the fetus alike, taking into account the health condition and the special needs in each case.