Folic acid in flour reduces the risk of mental illness

The fortification of folic acid has a positive effect on offspring

Studies have been published in recent months that conclude that vitamin supplements have no health benefit. However, there is one important exception: not only does folic acid reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke but, as recently discovered American scientists, the risk of mental illness in the offspring can be avoided if the mother feeds on cereals fortified with folic acid during pregnancy.

Researchers at the Mbadachusetts General Hospital recently published a study concluding that grain products enriched with folic acid have a positive impact on fetal brain development. In addition, folic acid in the flour should reduce the risk of mental disorders of the offspring. The results of the study were recently published in the journal "JAMA Psychiatry".

Folic acid has a positive effect on brain development

In the observational study, researchers were able to show that there are differences brain development in adolescents who received folic acid from the mother as fetus. The fortification came from cereal-based foods supplemented with folic acid. These improvements were introduced in the United States as early as the 1990s to prevent neural tube defects in infants.

Lower Risk of Severe Mental Illness

The results of the research team suggest that the prevalence of serious mental illness is high. the young adult could be reduced by exposure to folic acid. The study compared the brain of adolescents born shortly before and shortly after the introduction of folic acid fortification. Researchers have identified changes in brain development that have been linked to folic acid. These changes may in turn reduce the risk of mental symptoms.

Folic Acid Against Autism and Schizophrenia

"Serious mental illnesses such as autism and schizophrenia that affect children and young adults are devastating and chronic. "Says Joshua Roffman, the lead author of the study, in a press release about the results of the study." It is currently believed that many mental illnesses begin in the womb. therefore, it makes sense to focus efforts there.

A small proportion already means success

Roffman reports that it is a success even though only a fraction of mental disorders are prevented by the disease. This could mean that folic acid could represent a readily available intervention during pregnancy to counteract these diseases.

On Folic Acid Enrichment in the United States

regulation of the US Food and Drug Administration provided that cereal products such as bread, flour, corn flour, rice and pasta must be fortified with folic acid by January 1, 1998. This should reduce the general risk of severe disabilities such as spina bifida. The measure resulted in a rapid doubling of folate in the blood of American women. Shortly after, cases of spina bifida decreased nationally

. Changes in the cerebral cortex

Brain images of both groups of young born before and after the full implementation of different folic acid enrichment patterns in the maturation of the cerebral cortex. The group, which benefited from folic acid, showed significantly thicker brain tissue and delayed lightening in areas badociated with schizophrenia. According to scientists, previous studies have badociated early thinning with autism and symptoms of psychosis.

General statement still too early

"Exposure to folic acid may not be directly related to a reduced risk of schizophrenia, because the disease usually does not appear until 39, "In the early twenties," says Roffman.The study participants are all under this age, but the results are very promising and suggest a reduction in risk. " "Now studies are approaching the most at-risk age of multiple psychiatric disorders – including bipolar disorder and depression," said Roffman. Soon, it will be possible to make more specific statements about the extent to which 39, prenatal exposure to folic acid affects the development of mental disorders.

Expert believes that the global fortification of folic acid makes sense

Roffman, also professor of psychiatry at the H Arvard Medical School, for a global fortification of folic acid: "While 81 countries are currently increasing their food supply of folic acid, more than half of the world's population remains deprived of such exposure." Prenatal folic acid could be beneficial for brain health Dr. Roffman has also encouraged other countries to implement folic acid fortification. (Vb)