Folic Acid Supplements May Prevent Cleft Lip and Palate In Infants
Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, part of the National Institutes of Health, conducted a study to show the role of folic acid supplements taken by women during early pregnancy in preventing facial clefts amongst newborns. The research was conducted in Norway, where researchers asked pregnant women to fill out a questionnaire about their general health information, smoking and drinking habits as well as their vitamin intake. This study included 377 infants with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, 196 infants with cleft palate alone, as well as 763 control babies randomly selected from all live births in Norway. When all was said and done, researchers concluded that folic acid supplements during early pregnancy (400 micrograms) seem to reduce the risk of isolated cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) by about a third. Researchers also concluded that other vitamins and dietary factors may provide additional benefit. Further research on the impact of women taking folic acid supplements early in their pregnancy would help bring strength to the findings of this study. For more information go to the British Medical Journal, March 2007.
Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, part of the National Institutes of Health, conducted a study to show the role of folic acid supplements taken by women during early pregnancy in preventing facial clefts amongst newborns. The research was conducted in Norway, where researchers asked pregnant women to fill out a questionnaire about their general health information, smoking and drinking habits as well as their vitamin intake. This study included 377 infants with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, 196 infants with cleft palate alone, as well as 763 control babies randomly selected from all live births in Norway. When all was said and done, researchers concluded that folic acid supplements during early pregnancy (400 micrograms) seem to reduce the risk of isolated cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) by about a third. Researchers also concluded that other vitamins and dietary factors may provide additional benefit. Further research on the impact of women taking folic acid supplements early in their pregnancy would help bring strength to the findings of this study. For more information go to the British Medical Journal, March 2007.