Folic acid and childhood asthma

Every woman trying to get pregnant has heard about the importance of taking folic acid to prevent certain types of neurological birth defects like spina bifida. But a recent Norwegian research program indicates that high levels of folic acid taken prior to and while pregnant are connected with subsequent childhood asthma.

No one is suggesting elimination of folic acid. Instead, researchers hope that women and their doctors will be careful about taking the supplement and adhere to recommended dosages rather than take a “too much is better than nothing” attitude.

“We have compared the levels of folic acid in the blood of nearly 2000 pregnant women with the incidence of asthma in their children at the age of three. The results show that the higher the level of folic acid in the woman’s blood, the greater the risk of the child having asthma,” explained Siri Eldevik Haberg, MD PhD at the Norwegian Institute of Public health.

This is the first study of its kind. Factors such as maternal education, maternal age, economic level, body mass index, maternal smoking, etc.

However, Haberg stressed that there may be other factors not considered yet which would change their findings. The study was not prepared to say there was a causal effect between high levels of folic acid and asthma. But the relationship is there so women should be careful with their dosages and talk to their doctors.

Source: The Research Council of Norway, ScienceDaily