This addition of pregnancy can make your child smarter: study

Can a vitamin be the secret of a smarter child?

The new starting research suggests that folic acid intake, a type of vitamin B, can significantly strengthen a baby’s verbal skills and behavior by the time they return six.

“Our study provides new information that shows a positive link between folic acid intake during early pregnancy and brain health results in children, without any evidence of negative effects in higher doses,” said Dr. Kimford J. Meador, author of study, professor of neurology and neuroscime at Stanford University and a friend of the American Academy of Neurology.

What is folic acid?

Folic acid is a synthetic form of folates, a vitamin B that is naturally found in foods such as leafy greens, eggs, broccoli and citrus fruits. While it is essential for everyone, it is especially important for women who are pregnant or try to conceive.

Studies show that folic acid supplements taken before pregnancy and during the first trimester can significantly reduce the risk of serious birth defects affecting the brain and spinal cord, while also improving the overall health of the mother and baby.

But not all research has been glowing: some previous studies have found that too much folic acid during pregnancy can have harmful effects, potentially increasing the risk of insulin resistance and stunning brain development.

Currently, the recommended daily dose for most pregnant women is 0.4 milligrams (mg), although some mothers who should be, such as those with epilepsy, may be described higher.

The growth of the folic acid brain

The study traced 345 six years old-262 born to mothers with epilepsy and 83 for mothers without.

Researchers examined the folic acid doses that mothers received during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, ranking children in groups based on their mothers’ daily intake: no folic acid, up to 0.4 mg, more than 1.0 mg, more than 1.0 to 4.0 mg, and over 4.0 mg.

Children were placed through a series of tests to evaluate their verbal skills, including the description of objects or actions displayed in an image using a single word. Parents also completed questionnaires that measure their children’s social, communicative and daily skills.

After researchers were regulated for factors such as the mother’s IQ, epilepsy drugs and pregnancy complications, the results were striking.

Children whose mothers received folic acid marked on average 108 in verbal tests, compared to only 96 for those whose mothers bypassed vitamin.

When it comes to behavior results, the gap was even wider: 102 for the group of folic acids versus 82 for the non-gas acid group.

Deeper excavation at high dose versus low -dose results, researchers found that children in both groups marked similarly. The children of mothers who took a low dose had an average verbal score of 110, while those whose mothers received a high dose marked 108. Both groups had average behavior results of 103.

Taking for parents

“While previous studies have found risks with higher doses, these findings are insured for people who are pregnant or plan to have children,” Meador said. “Taking a higher dose of folic acid at the beginning of pregnancy can positively affect their baby’s brain health.”

However, Meador warned that more research is needed to determine the optimal dose for folic acid, which may vary in different groups of women.

The study had limitations, including failure to calculate factors that may affect the absorption of folic acid, such as other vitamins or genetic variations.

Can folic acid help children with autism?

Although folic acid seems more useful before and during the first three months of pregnancy, new research suggests that it may also provide hope for children with autism after birth.

In a case of jaw, a 3-year-old with nonverbal autism spoke his first words just three days after being given Leucovor, a free generic drug extracted from folic acid often prescribed to cancer patients to oppose the side effects of chemotherapy.

The benefit can stem from the fact that many children with autism have low folate levels in their brains, a condition known as the lack of cerebral folates. Other studies suggest a significant number of children with autism have antibodies that interfere with the transport of folate in the brain.

“It can really have a significant impact on a very good percentage of children with autism,” CBS told Dr. Richard Spirologist, a pediatric neurologist who led the study.

Frye has explored Leucovor’s potential for years. In a 2020 study, he found that two -thirds of 44 children with both autoantibodies alpha of autism and the folate receptor showed improvements in the tongue after taking the medicine.

Another study he published in 2018 found that 48 children with autism and linguistic damage received Leucovor showed significant improvements compared to those given a placebo.