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.