A recent study indicates that folate might lessen the connection between blood-lead levels in expectant mothers and autistic-like behaviors in their offspring.
New research provides yet another reason to consider taking folic acid supplements during pregnancy.
A study conducted by researchers at Simon Fraser University has discovered that folate could diminish the association between blood-lead levels in pregnant women and the manifestation of autistic-like behaviors in their children.
Leading this research was PhD candidate Joshua Alampi from SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, and their findings were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
“Taking folic acid supplements during pregnancy offers numerous advantages for child health, particularly in brain development,” explains Alampi. “Our findings suggest that sufficient folic acid intake can lessen the harmful effects of lead on the brain.”
This research marks the first instance of demonstrating that appropriate folic acid supplementation may lower the risk associated with lead exposure during pregnancy and autism. It revealed that the links between blood lead levels and autistic-like behaviors in toddlers were more pronounced in pregnant women who consumed less than 0.4 milligrams of folic acid daily.
Folate, along with folic acid—which is a man-made form of folate found in fortified foods—has long been recognized as a crucial nutrient for expectant mothers. Adequate folate intake is vital for brain development and helps prevent neural tube defects. Prior studies have shown that the connections between autism and exposure to pesticides, air pollutants, and phthalates (common chemicals in soft plastics) during pregnancy become more significant when folic acid consumption is low.
The research team utilized data from 2008-2011 involving 2,000 Canadian women who participated in the MIREC study (Mother-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals). They measured blood-lead levels during the first and third trimesters and also surveyed the women regarding their folic acid intake. The children from this study were evaluated at ages three or four with the use of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a well-known caregiver-reported tool that identifies autistic-like behaviors in toddlers.
Interestingly, the researchers noted that taking more than 1.0 milligrams of folic acid per day did not yield any additional benefits in lessening the neurotoxic effects of lead exposure.
“The results are in line with Health Canada’s guidelines advocating that all individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant should use a daily multivitamin containing 0.4 milligrams of folic acid.”
