ScienceDaily: Folic Acid News

Caffeine linked to low birth weight babies

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:15:15 EST

Maternal nutrition is important to a developing embryo and to the health of the child later in life. Supplementing the diet with specific vitamins is known to increase health of the fetus for example folic acid (vitamin B9) reduces the risk of spina bifida. However not everything an adult might consume is beneficial to a developing baby. New research shows that caffeine is linked to low birth weight babies and that caffeine from coffee in linked to increasing length of pregnancy.

Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:22:22 EST

Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk.

Which nutritional factors help preserve muscle mass, strength and performance in seniors?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:17:17 EST

A new review identifies nutritional factors that contribute to sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), or conversely, are beneficial to the maintenance of muscle mass. The Group reviewed evidence from worldwide studies on the role of nutrition in sarcopenia, specifically looking at protein, acid–base balance, vitamin D/calcium, and other minor nutrients like B vitamins.

Lack of key enzyme in the metabolism of folic acid leads to birth defects

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:33:33 EST

Researchers have discovered that the lack of a critical enzyme in the folic acid metabolic pathway leads to neural tube birth defects in developing embryos.

Mild vitamin B12 deficiency associated with accelerated cognitive decline

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:26:26 EST

A study conducted at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University associates mild vitamin B-12 deficiency with accelerated cognitive decline in men and women, beginning in their mid-seventies. Whether such mild vitamin B-12 deficiency has any clinical consequences is the subject of debate.

How the body uses vitamin B to recognize bacterial infection

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:14:14 EDT

An Australian research team has discovered how specialized immune cells recognize products of vitamin B synthesis that are unique to bacteria and yeast, triggering the body to fight infection.

Fewer iron supplements during pregnancy work just as well for preventing anemia, study suggests

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:43:43 EDT

Taking iron supplements one to three times a week instead of every day is just as effective at preventing anemia in pregnant women, according to the findings of a new Cochrane systematic review. The authors of the review also showed that women experienced fewer side effects when taking iron supplements intermittently rather than daily.

Folic acid intake during early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of autism in offspring

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:41:41 EDT

Women who consume the recommended daily dosage of folic acid, the synthetic form of folate or vitamin B-9, during the first month of pregnancy may have a reduced risk of having a child with autism.

Folic acid food enrichment potentially protective against childhood cancers

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:50:50 EDT

Researchers have found folic acid fortification of grain products in the United States may have an impact on lowering some childhood cancers. The new research shows fortification does not appear to be causing childhood cancer rates to increase, and also finds a notable decrease in two types of childhood cancer.

Folic acid may reduce some childhood cancers

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:42:42 EDT

Folic acid fortification of foods may reduce the incidence of the most common type of kidney cancer and a type of brain tumors in children, finds a new study. Incidence reductions were found for Wilms' tumor, a type of kidney cancer, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors, a type of brain cancer.

High doses of certain dietary supplements increase cancer risk

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:10:10 EDT

Beta-carotene, selenium and folic acid -- taken up to three times their recommended daily allowance, these supplements are probably harmless. But taken at much higher levels as some supplement manufacturers suggest, these three supplements have now been shown to increase the risk of developing a host of cancers.

Myths and truths of obesity and pregnancy

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:58:58 EST

Ironically, despite excessive caloric intake, many obese women are deficient in vitamins vital to a healthy pregnancy. This and other startling statistics abound when obesity and pregnancy collide. Together, they present a unique set of challenges that women and their doctors must tackle in order to achieve the best possible outcome for mom and baby.

Folic acid supplements in early pregnancy may reduce the risk of severe language delay in children

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:41:41 EDT

A new study finds that mothers who took folic acid supplements from four weeks before to eight weeks after conception reported a significantly lower prevalence of severe language delay in their children at age three.

Folic acid in early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of severe language delay in children

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:30 EDT

Use of folic acid supplements by women in Norway in the period four weeks before to eight weeks after conception was associated with a reduced risk of the child having severe language delay at age three years, according to a new study.

Health benefits of broccoli require the whole food, not supplements

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:25:25 EDT

New research has found that if you want some of the many health benefits associated with eating broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables, you need to eat the real thing -- a key phytochemical in these vegetables is poorly absorbed and of far less value if taken as a supplement.

Certain dietary supplements associated with increased risk of death in older women, study suggests

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:30:30 EDT

Consuming dietary supplements, including multivitamins, folic acid, iron and copper, among others, appears to be associated with an increased risk of death in older women, according to a new report.

Children with spina bifida need personal 'starter'

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:28:28 EDT

Children born with spina bifida often have difficulties to perform everyday activities. This is not primarily due to being confined to a wheelchair or to parental overprotection as was previously believed -- new research shows that it is down to an inability to initiate and complete a task towards a specific goal.

Higher quality diet associated with reduced risk of some birth defects

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:17:17 EDT

Healthier dietary choices by pregnant women are associated with reduced risks of birth defects, including neural tube defects and orofacial clefts, according to a new study.

Overall quality of pregnant woman’s diet affects risk for two birth defects, study shows

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:17:17 EDT

The overall quality of a pregnant woman's diet is linked with risk for two types of serious birth defects, a new study has shown. In the study, women who ate better before and during pregnancy gave birth to fewer infants with malformations of the brain and spinal cord, or orofacial clefts, such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

New imaging technique visualizes cancer during surgery

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:19:19 EDT

Scientists have now deployed a new imaging technology using laser light to detect cancer based on molecular signatures, leading to the localization of even small cancer cell nests that surgeons might otherwise overlook during surgery. The technique has now been successfully tested on nine patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer. There are plans to apply this imaging concept also to minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures.

Pregnant women in Vancouver may not be getting enough vitamin D

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:28:28 EDT

Pregnant women taking prenatal supplements may not be getting enough vitamin D, shows a new Vancouver-based study.

High folate intake may reduce risk of colorectal cancer

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:36:36 EDT

Intake of high levels of folate may reduce colorectal cancer risk, according to a new study. Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food.

Fortifying corn masa flour with folic acid could prevent birth defects, March of Dimes says

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:36:36 EDT

Fortifying corn masa flour with the B vitamin folic acid could prevent more serious birth defects of the brain and spine in the Hispanic community, according to a March of Dimes commentary.

Folic acid given to mother rats protects offspring from colon cancer

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:25:25 EDT

Folic acid supplements given to pregnant and breastfeeding rats reduced the rate of colon cancer in their offspring by 64 percent, a new study has found.

Women who start prenatal vitamins early are less likely to have children with autism, study finds

Wed, 25 May 2011 11:21:21 EDT

Women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as women who did take the supplements -- and the associated risk rose to seven times as great when combined with a high-risk genetic make-up, a new study has found.

Folic acid for everybody? Arguments in favor of food fortification to reduce neural tube defects

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:24:24 EDT

Neural tube defects in neonates are common in Germany compared with the rest of Europe. Extensive folic acid fortification of foods in Germany might prevent these in 85–100% of cases, researchers argue.

Extra iron doesn't help many pregnant women, study suggests

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:18:18 EST

Although universal prenatal supplementation with iron is recommended, an extra intake of iron does not noticeably benefit pregnant women, except when they are anemic, new research suggests.

Offspring of female rats given folic acid supplements develop more breast cancer, study suggests

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:55:55 EST

The daughters of rats who took folic acid supplements before conception, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding have breast cancer rates twice as high as other rats, according to a new study.

Folic acid may increase the risk of asthma, study suggests

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 07:57:57 EST

Recent Norwegian research suggests that there may be a connection between high levels of folic acid in pregnant mothers and the development of asthma in their children. However, the researchers stress that pregnant women should continue to take folic acid supplements.

Why folic acid may prevent a first heart attack, but not a second

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:23:23 EST

A perplexing medical paradox now has an explanation according to new research. The paradox is that taking folic acid, a B vitamin, lowers homocysteine in the blood which, epidemiological evidence indicates, should lower the risk of heart attack, but clinical trials of folic acid have not shown the expected benefit.

What are the right food supplements during pregnancy? Study shows risky knowledge gaps

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:31:31 EST

Mothers-to-be can cover increased demands for most nutrients, vitamins and minerals with a balanced diet, but where dietary supplements are needed during pregnancy, knowledge may be a missing ingredient. According to researchers in Germany, pregnant women often start taking appropriate dietary supplements too late or not at all. Other micronutrients, whose effects during pregnancy have not yet been studied, may be unwittingly overdosed.

Prenatal micronutrient supplementation boosts children's cognition in Nepal

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:38:38 EST

In developing countries where iron deficiency is prevalent, prenatal iron-folic acid supplementation increased offspring intellectual and motor functioning during school age, according to researchers.

Increased consumption of folic acid can reduce birth defects but may also be associated with colorectal cancer

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:16:16 EST

Folic acid can reduce birth defects including neural tube defects, congenital heart disease and oral clefts but some speculate high intakes of folic acid may be associated with adverse events such as colorectal cancer.

Link between folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, DNA methylation and birth weight in newborn babies

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:58:58 EST

Groundbreaking work by a team of UK scientists has identified, for the first time, a link between changes in the DNA of newborn babies, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, and birth weight.

Age-related hearing loss and folate in the elderly

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:55:55 EST

Age-related hearing loss, one of the four most prevalent chronic conditions in the elderly, is associated with low serum levels of folic acid, according to new research.

Epilepsy: Women need specific treatment, experts say

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 08:23:23 EST

Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to take account of the specific hormonal situation in women. Such an approach can often reduce the limitations imposed by the disease, according to experts.

Proton-pump inhibitors and birth defects: Some reassurances, but more needed, warns epidemiologist

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:15:15 EST

Despite the reassurances about the use of proton-pump inhibitors during pregnancy based on a new study, an epidemiologist believes that further studies are needed.

B-complex vitamins may help slow progression of dementia

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:51:51 EDT

Large doses of B-complex vitamins could reduce the rate of brain shrinkage by half in elderly people with memory problems and slow the progression of dementia.

Meta-analysis shows no heart benefits for folic acid supplements

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:33:33 EDT

Use of folic acid supplements appears to lower blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine -- theorized to be a risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease -- but does not appear to be associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular events, cancer or death over a five-year period, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies.

Loss of nutrients following gastric bypass surgery in adolescent girls

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 08:14:14 EDT

An increasing number of obese adolescents, particularly females, are undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Yet a recent case study highlights the possible link between gastric bypass surgery in adolescent girls and an increased risk for neural tube defects.

B vitamins slow brain atrophy in people with memory problems

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:30:30 EDT

Daily tablets of certain B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage in elderly people who suffer from mild memory problems, a new study has shown.

Lowering homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 does not appear to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, study finds

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:12:12 EDT

Patients who had experienced a heart attack and lowered their blood homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation did not have an associated lower risk of heart attack, coronary death or stroke, according to a new study. However, the researchers did find that folic acid supplementation did not increase the risk of cancer, which has been speculated.

Folic acid found to improve vascular function in amenorrheic runners

Mon, 10 May 2010 17:46:46 EDT

A study has found that oral folic acid may provide a safe and inexpensive treatment to improve vascular function in young female runners who are amenorrheic (not menstruating).

Nationwide study: One in four women show ambivalence toward pregnancy

Thu, 06 May 2010 10:29:29 EDT

For years, a widely held assumption was that women of childbearing age fell neatly into two camps: those trying to have children, and those not trying to have children. A new nationwide study suggests, however, that nearly a fourth of women consider themselves "OK either way" about getting pregnant -- a wide swath of ambivalence that surprised researchers, and that could reshape how doctors approach many aspects of women's health care. The results surprised researchers, and could reshape how doctors approach women's health care.

High doses of B vitamins associated with increased decline in kidney function for patients with kidney disease from diabetes

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:17:17 EDT

Patients with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease caused by diabetes) who received high dose B-vitamin therapy experienced a more rapid decline in kidney function and had a higher rate of heart attack and stroke than patients who received placebo, according to a study.

Understanding how folic acid might help heal brain and spinal cord injuries

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:17:17 EDT

Babies born to women who do not consume enough folic acid are at high risk of developing neural tube defects. This is the reason underlying the recommendation that women who are pregnant take a folic acid supplement. New research using rodents now suggests how folic acid might also help promote healing in injured brain and spinal cord.

Diet high in B vitamins lowers heart risks in Japanese study

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:19:19 EDT

In a large study in Japan, women who reported eating more foods containing the B vitamins folate and B-6 were less likely to die from stroke and heart disease. Japanese men reporting diets high in these B vitamins were less likely to die of heart failure.

Folic acid in dietary supplements could increase risk of breast cancer, Swedish research suggests

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:33:33 EDT

In most women folate, a type of B vitamin, reduces the risk of breast cancer. However, in women with a certain genetic make-up it has shown to be the opposite: folate raises the risk of breast cancer, according to a Swedish nutrition researcher.

Dietary formula that maintains youthful function into old age

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:31:31 EST

Researchers develop dietary formula that maintains youthful function into old age.

Factors linked to growth of fetus in first trimester and subsequent outcomes

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:23:23 EST

Factors such as maternal high blood pressure and high hematocrit levels (the proportion of blood that consists of red blood cells) are associated with a greater likelihood of restricted fetal growth during the first trimester, with restricted growth linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, according to a new study.

Eating habits of female soccer players and consequences for sporting activity

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:19:19 EST

To be a good sportsperson, apart from having talent and being fit and in-training, eating habits are also important. Researchers concluded that just by changing one or two bad habits sportswomen could achieve a body that suffers less during matches, thus increasing the possibility of enhancing sporting performance.

Treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12 associated with increased risk of cancer, death

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:10:10 EST

Patients with heart disease in Norway, a country with no fortification of foods with folic acid, had an associated increased risk of cancer and death from any cause if they had received treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12, according to a new study.

Folic Acid Supplements Linked To Asthma, Study Suggests

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:17:17 EST

A new study may have shed light on the rise in childhood asthma in developed countries like Australia in recent decades. Researchers have identified a link between folic acid supplements taken in late pregnancy and allergic asthma in children aged between 3 and 5 years, suggesting that the timing of supplementation in pregnancy is important.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Problems Associated With Low Folate Levels In Pregnant Women

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:46:46 EDT

It has long been suggested that healthy folate levels in expectant mothers goes hand in hand with healthy nervous system development in their children.

Mortality Rates Reduced Among Children Whose Mothers Received Iron-folic Acid Supplements

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:28:28 EDT

Offspring whose mothers had been supplemented with iron-folic acid during pregnancy had dramatically reduced mortality through age 7.

Medications That Block Folic Acid In Pregnancy Double Risk Of Congenital Malformations In Fetus

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:17:17 EDT

Pregnant women are advised to take vitamin supplements containing folic acid as part of their routine prenatal care. Now, a new study warns that taking medications that reduce or block the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy increase the risk that the growing baby will develop abnormalities.

Effects Of Aspirin And Folic Acid On Inflammation Markers For Colorectal Adenomas

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:58:58 EDT

Unexpectedly, inflammation markers do not appear to be involved with the chemopreventative effect of aspirin on colorectal adenomas, according to new research.

Heart Disease: B-vitamin Pills Have No Effect, Review Finds

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:13:13 EDT

B-vitamin supplements should not be recommended for prevention of heart disease, say scientists. A new review has shown these supplements do not reduce the risk of developing or dying from the disease.

Folic Acid: Mandatory Fortification May Be Unnecessary

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:19:19 EDT

Persistently present levels of unmetabolized folic acid found in the population indicate that introducing mandatory food fortification may result in an "overdosing" effect. A study of blood donors, new mothers and babies, has found that most already get enough folic acid from voluntarily fortified foods.

Low Choline Levels In Pregnant Women Raise Babies' Risk For Brain And Spinal-cord Defects, Study Shows

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:04:04 EDT

A newborn's risk for brain and spinal-cord defects rises if the mother has low blood levels of the nutrient choline during pregnancy, researchers have discovered.