Could a vitamin be the secret to a smarter baby?
Groundbreaking new research suggests that taking folic acid, a type of B vitamin, early in pregnancy can significantly boost a child’s verbal and behavioral skills by the time they turn six.
“Our study provides new information showing a positive connection between taking folic acid during early pregnancy and brain health outcomes in children, with no evidence of negative effects at higher doses,” said Dr. Kimford J. Meador, study author, professor of of neurology and neurosciences at Stanford University and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin found naturally in foods like leafy greens, eggs, broccoli and citrus fruits. While essential for everyone, it’s especially critical for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Studies show that folic acid supplements taken before pregnancy and during the first trimester can significantly lower the risk of serious birth defects affecting the brain and spinal cord, while also improving the overall health of both mother and baby.
But not all research has been glowing: some previous studies have found that too much folic acid during pregnancy could have harmful effects, potentially raising the risk of insulin resistance and stunted brain development.
Currently, the recommended daily dose for most pregnant women is 0.4 milligrams (mg), though some moms-to-be, like those with epilepsy, might be prescribed higher amounts.
Folic acid brain boost
The study tracked 345 six-year-olds — 262 born to mothers with epilepsy and 83 to mothers without.
Researchers examined the folic acid dosages the mothers took during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, sorting the children into groups based on their moms’ daily intake: no folic acid, up to 0.4 mg, more than 0.4 to 1.0 mg, more than 1.0 to 4.0 mg, and over 4.0 mg.
The children were put through a series of tests to assess their verbal skills, including describing objects or actions displayed in an image using a single word. Parents also completed questionnaires measuring their children’s social, communication and daily living skills.
Once researchers adjusted for factors like maternal IQ, epilepsy medications, and pregnancy complications, the results were striking.
Children whose mothers took folic acid scored an average of 108 on verbal tests, compared to just 96 for those whose moms skipped the vitamin.
When it came to behavioral scores, the gap was even wider: 102 for the folic acid group versus 82 for the non-folic acid group.
Digging deeper into the high-dose versus low-dose results, researchers found that kids in both groups scored similarly. Children of mothers who took a low dose had an average verbal score of 110, while those whose moms took a high dose scored 108. Both groups had average behavioral scores of 103.
The takeaway for parents
“While previous studies have found risks with higher doses, these findings are reassuring for people who are pregnant or planning to have children,” Meador said. “Taking a higher dose of folic acid early in pregnancy may still positively impact the brain health of their child.”
However, Meador cautioned that more research is needed to pinpoint the optimal dose for folic acid, which could vary across different groups of women.
The study did have limitations, including failing to account for factors that could influence folic acid absorption, such as other vitamins or genetic variations.
Could folic acid help children with autism?
Though folic acid appears most beneficial before and during the first three months of pregnancy, new research suggests it might also offer hope to children with autism after birth.
In one jaw-dropping case, a 3-year-old with nonverbal autism spoke his first words just three days after being given leucovorin, a cheap generic drug derived from folic acid that’s often prescribed to cancer patients to counteract chemotherapy’s side effects.
The benefit may stem from the fact that many children with autism have low folate levels in their brains, a condition known as cerebral folate deficiency. Other studies suggest a significant number of children with autism have antibodies that interfere with folate transport into the brain.
“It could really have a substantial impact on a very good percentage of children with autism,” Dr. Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist who led the study, told CBS.
Frye has been exploring the potential of leucovorin for years. In a 2020 study, he found that two-thirds of 44 children with both autism and folate receptor alpha autoantibodies showed improvements in language after taking the drug.
Another study he published in 2018 found that 48 children with autism and language impairments who took leucovorin showed significant improvements compared to those who were given a placebo.