Assuming a quantity of folic acid higher than that normally recommended in pregnancy is not dangerous: this is what emerges from a study that will be presented in April at the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurology.
We have been knowing for some time that thefolic acid It is recommended for those who are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant, because it has been shown that integration reduces the risks of deformity of the unborn child and improves its intellectual skills; However, albeit the ISS advice to fertile women looking for a child to take an amount equal to 0.6 mg per day, it is not known with certainty what the ideal dose is.
Five groups. The study involved 345 children of six years, 262 of whom were children of epileptic mothers. During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the mothers took on different quantities of folic acid: zero, less than 0.4 mg per day, from 0.4 to 1 mg per day, from 1 to 4 mg per day and more than 4 mg per day. To women who They suffer from epilepsy is often prescribed a greater dose of folic acid, since anticonvulsant drugs can lead to a deficiency of vitamin.
The tests. The children have undergone several tests to evaluate their verbal skills: In a score from 70 to 130, the general population gets on average 100. Parents were then asked to evaluate the behavior of their children, and in particular the communication skills, social skills and daily life. Also in this case, from 70 to 130, the general population totals 100 points on average.
The results. On average, the children of the mothers who had taken folic acid in pregnancy (regardless of the dosage) totaled 108 points in the verbal tests and 102 in the behavioral ones; The children of those who had not taken folic acid instead totaled 96 points in the verbal tests and 82 in the behavioral ones.
All to be verified. Among those who had taken folic acid, regardless of the dosage, the results were similar in both tests, demonstrating that taking on a greater dose than the recommended one would have no side effects (but not even superior benefits, at least in the areas analyzed).
However, it is important to remember that research has not taken into account other factors that could affect the absorption of folic acid, such as the contemporary intake of other vitamins and genetics. “Further studies are needed to determine the ideal dose of folic acid, capable of maximizing benefits and minimizing risks”, concludes Kimford J.
Meador, one of the authors.
