Lee Swanson Research Update

Low Folate Levels in Early Pregnancy Could Lead to Hyperactive Youngsters

May 2010

Researchers from the United Kingdom have found that the development of a child’s brain in early pregnancy may be impaired by low folate levels in the mother, and lead to behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and inattention.

Low folate levels in early pregnancy were associated with increased rates of childhood hyperactivity and peer problems, according to a study with 100 mothers and their children followed for almost nine years.

Scientists from the University of Southampton and University College London’s Institute of Child Health propose that the low folate levels impair the development of the brain in the fetus, and early pregnancy is a critical time for brain development.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study in humans to provide evidence for associations of maternal folate with behavioral outcomes in the offspring, and it is the first study to demonstrate a putative pathway via fetal head growth," wrote the researchers in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Led by Southampton’s Dr. Wolff Schiotz, the researchers recruited 100 mothers in early pregnancy and took blood samples to measure folate levels, and then followed them for an average of 8.75 years. The mothers reported on their children’s behavior using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

The results showed that low maternal levels of folate were associated with both higher childhood hyperactivity and peer problems scores.

"Although the associations are small and residual confounding is possible, our data provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that lower folate status in early pregnancy might impair fetal brain development and affect hyperactivity/inattention and peer problems in childhood," Dr. Schiotz and his co-workers wrote.

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 51(5):594-602, 2010

 

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