Pre-Pregnancy Folic Acid Cuts Risk of Autism

Folic acid is featured in the prenatal vitamins pregnant women take because this nutrient reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects in babies. A new study from Norway suggests that women who get extra folic acid at least a month before conception and two months thereafter are less likely to have children diagnosed with autism.
The Norwegian scientists tracked over 85,000 women who gave birth between 2002 and 2008. Those who took folic acid supplements around the time of conception were 40% less likely to have children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Although this study needs to be replicated, the results suggest that women who might become pregnant should eat foods high in folic acid such as dark green leafy vegetables or take a vitamin supplement containing folic acid to ensure adequate levels at all times.
[JAMA, Feb. 12, 2013]