Prenatal Vitamins May Reduce Risk of Autism

pregnancy.thefuntimesguide.com

Although autism is until now the cause of autism is not yet known, but the risk of autism can be reduced. Research has shown that taking prenatal vitamins at the time before pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies born suffer from autism.

According Irva Hertz-Picciotto, PhD, of the University of California, the United States said that to reduce the risk of autism are strongly advised to take prenatal vitamins for 3 months before conception and the month after fertilization occurs. In research published in the journal Epidemiology, is also mentioned prenatal vitamins provide a higher protective effect on infants and mothers who have a specific genetic risk.

Research carried out on three groups of children aged 2-5 years, which consisted of 288 children autism, 141 children with autism spectrum disorders, and 278 children with typical development. The children’s mother had reported taking prenatal vitamins or other supplements before, during and after pregnancy. The researchers then collected blood samples from all family members to evaluate their genetic composition.

The focus of the research is specific genes known to participate in the metabolism of folate. As is known folate and other B vitamins are very important for brain development. Those who have a specific gene are at greater risk of suffering from autism.

In general, the mothers who did not consume prenatal vitamins 60 percent higher risk for having children with autism. The risk will increase if the mother or the child has high-risk genes. But the results of this study did not reveal the mechanism of protection provided by the prenatal vitamins in autism.