Folic acid in pregnancy may cut kids’ autism risk 

Mothers who take the recommended amounts of folic acid during pregnancy might reduce the risk of their children developing pesticide-related autism, researchers say.

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What findings say?

• The findings showed that if the mother was taking folic acid during the window around conception.
• The risk associated with pesticides seemed to be attenuated.
• Folic acid intake below the median and exposure to pesticides was associated with higher risk of autism.
• In addition,than either low intake or exposure alone.
• Folate plays a critical role in DNA methylation.
• Furthermore,a process by which genes are turned off or on, as well as in DNA repair and synthesis.
• These are all really important during periods of rapid growth when there are lots of cells dividing, as in a developing foetus.
• Adding folic acid might be helping out in a number of these genomic functions,”expert added.

Experiment:

• In the study,the team looked at 296 children aged between 2 and 5 who had been diagnosed with ASD and 220 who had developed typically.
• Mothers who took less than 400 micrograms and encountered household pesticides.
• In addition,had a much higher estimated risk of having a child who developed autism.
• Than mothers who took 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid and were not exposed to pesticides.
• The associated risk increased for women exposed repeatedly.
• Women with low folic acid intake who were exposed to agricultural pesticides.
• During a window from three months before conception to three months afterward also were at higher estimated risk.
• While folic acid did reduce the associated risk of a child developing autism, it did not entirely eliminate it.
• Thus “it would be better for women to avoid chronic pesticide exposure if they can while pregnant,” Expert added.