Impact of Folic Acid Supplements on Brain Development in Infants
Study Overview
Researchers investigated the effects of folic acid supplementation on brain development in infants whose mothers received these supplements during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. While a daily dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid is recommended before conception and throughout the first trimester to prevent neural tube defects, emerging evidence suggests that maternal folic acid levels may influence other aspects of a child’s health.
Previous Research Findings
Prior studies have indicated that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy positively affects learning and cognitive abilities in children at ages three and six. Scientists attribute these benefits to folic acid’s crucial role in DNA changes and gene regulation through a process known as DNA methylation. This process alters gene functionality without modifying the DNA sequence itself.
Current Study Details
The recent study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analyzed cord blood samples from participants in the Folic Acid Supplementation in the Second and Third Trimesters (FASSTT) clinical trial. All mothers in the trial received 400 micrograms of folic acid daily during the first trimester. Participants were then randomly divided into a treatment group, which continued folic acid supplementation, and a control group, which received a placebo.
Findings on DNA Methylation
From 119 mothers who completed the study, researchers collected cord blood from 86 participants. They sequenced the DNA from these samples, focusing on nine genes associated with brain development and regulated by DNA methylation. The study revealed significant differences in DNA methylation levels between the two groups. Newborns of mothers who supplemented with folic acid during the second and third trimesters exhibited notably lower DNA methylation levels compared to those who only received supplementation in the first trimester.
Implications and Future Research
The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of how maternal folic acid levels may affect infant brain development at a biological level. Nonetheless, further research is essential to fully elucidate these mechanisms.
Author and Reference
Written by Cindi A. Hoover, Ph.D.
Reference: Caffrey A, Irwin RE, McNulty H et al. Gene-specific DNA methylation in newborns in response to folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy: epigenetic analysis from a randomized controlled trial. 2018. Am J Clin Nutr 107:4:566-575.