Folic acid linked to healthy development of the brain during childhood

(Reuters Health) – The fortification of folic acid not only protects developing babies against certain birth defects, but also promotes healthy brain development during adolescence, researchers report. "It has been known for over 20 years that prenatal exposure to folic acid protects the fetus against spina bifida and other neural tube defects," said Dr. Joshua L. Roffman , senior author of the Mbadachusetts General Hospital study in Charlestown. "But our findings are among the first to link prenatal exposure to improving brain health in young people," and to show that the effect is due to specific changes in brain development he told Reuters Health.

Researchers evaluated badociations between prenatal exposure to folic acid, cerebral cortex maturation, and risk of psychiatric disorders in 8-18-year-olds born before, during, and after full implementation of acid enrichment 1996 and 1998.

The thickness of the cerebral cortex was higher in young born after the full implementation of folic acid fortification, intermediate in those born during deployment and lower in those born before folic acid fortification.

After the brain reaches its full thickness, the cortex begins to thin in a selective pruning process. Delayed thinning has been badociated with higher intelligence, whereas accelerated thinning has been badociated with schizophrenia and autism, the researchers note.

In this study, folic acid fortification was badociated with a slowing down of the cerebral cortex, and this delayed thinning was badociated with a decreased risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

"Despite longstanding recommendations that women of childbearing age take folic acid to protect against neural tube defects, especially in unplanned pregnancies, most pregnant women do not get pregnant. take no prenatal supplements of folic acid. vitamins), and less than half of the world's population lives in countries that require folic acid fortification of grain products, "said Roffman. [19659002] The results demonstrate that prenatal folic acid can confer additional protective and lasting effects on brain health, beyond its effects on the prevention of neural tube defects, he added.

"Even if such a benefit ultimately turns out limited or limited to a certain population, since folic acid during pregnancy is safe for the mother and the fetus, inexpensive and easily di available, these results can help use it more widely. "Roffman said.

"This study provides additional evidence in support of the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) of Folic acid a day, "said Dr. Patrick J. Stover. Texas A & M University at College Station, who was not involved in the research.

"This study provides additional evidence that all countries should use folic acid fortification or other effective approaches to ensure that women have adequate levels of folate. folic acid intake during pregnancy, "he said.

SOURCE: bit.ly/2IQonuB JAMA Psychiatry, online July 3, 2018.