A soon to be released study in the American Journal of Epidemiology says that little ones born to mamas who take folic acid in late pregnancy are at increased risk for asthma. The new Australia based study notes that supplemental folic acid in late pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of asthma in children. However, the study also points out that folic acid taken in early pregnancy does not link to an increased risk of asthma.
Folic acid is vitally important during the pre-conception stage and during early pregnancy. Without folic acid your baby can be born with scary neural tube birth defects - birth defects of the spine and brain. Folic acid may also prevent premature birth and heart defects.
The study support the recommendation that women need to take a supplemental dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid per day in pre-conception and also during early pregnancy. Researchers on the study say that the recommendations should possible be adjusted to say that women should avoid the “Use of high-dose supplemental folic acid in late pregnancy.”
What this study means to you:
You need to take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before you become pregnant and during early pregnancy.
If you don’t take folic acid it is very dangerious for your baby.
You should talk to your prenatal care provider about the risks of taking folic acid late in your pregnancy.
The study found NO link between dietary folic acid and asthma, so you can safely eat folic acid rich foods during your entire pregnancy.
