09 March 2015
According to a new review from China maternal folic acid supplementation seems to reduce the risk of congenital heart defects in the offspring.
The meta-analysis included 18 studies investigating a potential link between increased folic acid intake during pregnancy and the risk of their babies developing congenital heart defects (CHDs) (1). The data analysis showed that maternal folate supplementation was associated with a significantly decreased risk of CHDs.
The researchers commented that low blood folate concentrations and/or high homocysteine levels seem to interfere with the development of the heart. Folic acid may play a role in the migration of the cardiac neural crest cells that contribute to the formation of the heart. As the precise effects of folate supplementation on cardiac morphogenesis are unclear, they said it is important to corroborate this hypothesis with evidence from clinical and population-based studies. Although the potential role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects was reported as early as 1980, public health campaigns have resulted in preconception supplementation in only one-third of pregnant women, partly because one-half of all pregnancies are unplanned (2).
22 October 2014
A new study from Australia reports that low blood concentrations of vitamin B1, B2, B12 and folate seem to play a role in the development of fat cells and childhood obesity.
5 April 2009
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, and folate is the only dietary pattern associated with lower risk of heart disease, says a review.
5 December 2011
Vitamin D deficiency and low calcium intakes may be highly prevalent in patients with prostate cancer, says a new Spanish study.
