Folic Acid During Pregnancy Prevent Brain Tumor in Children

A recent study conducted by Perth's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research suggest that the intake of folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy protects a child from brain tumor.

Researchers from the Perth's Telethon Institute of Child Health Research have found to a case-controlled study that the consumption of folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy had help protect a child from childhood brain tumor.

The study collected data between 2005 and 2010 to investigate nutritional, environmental and genetic risk factors for childhood brain tumors. A total of 1669 cases were studies of which 335 mothers had children with brain tumor while the rest had completely healthy children.

Study leader Professor Elizabeth Milne said while other studies had investigated the impact of multivitamin supplements, this research project was the first to separate out different types of supplements, including folic acid and other B group vitamins.

"Our study found that folic acid use before pregnancy reduced the risk of childhood brain tumors by around 30%," Professor Milne said in an official statement.

 "There also appeared to be some effect when taken after conception, but it was not as strong as when taken before pregnancy.

"We know this is biologically plausible, as a mother's store of folate is used rapidly from conception in keeping DNA healthy as it replicates and in fuelling the rapid development of brain cells in the fetus."

However, the Professor was quick to clear that lack of folic acid in an expecting mother or child doesn't necessary mean it causes brain tumor.

"What we are looking at here is reducing overall risk in the population and these findings cannot be extrapolated to an individual level. Indeed, many case mothers took folic acid," she said.

"There are likely to be many causes of childhood brain tumours and we are hopeful that folic acid supplements may be one way to reduce the risk as well as providing other established benefits to the developing baby."