Prenatal folic acid supplementation and risk of language delay

January 01, 0001

Prenatal folic acid supplementation and risk of language delay

Prenatal folic acid supplementation decreases the risk of neural tube defects. These Norwegian and UK researchers want to see if folic acid supplementation had other neurodevelopmental benefits. Specifically, they examined prenatal folic acid supplementation and risk of subsequent severe language through the prospective observational Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. They used surveys to measure prenatal supplementation at 4-8 weeks and also measured the children’s language competency at age 3 years using a grammar scale.

The researchers found: "Among 38 954 children, 204 (0.5%) had severe language delay. Children whose mothers took no dietary supplements in the specified exposure interval were the reference group (n = 9052 {24.0%}, with severe language delay in 81 children [0.9%

The researchers concluded: "Among this Norwegian cohort of mothers and children, maternal use of folic acid supplements in early pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of severe language delay in children at age 3 years."

This study suggests that prenatal folic acid supplementation may reduce the risk of severe language delay in children.

For the full abstract, click here.

JAMA 306(14):1566-1573, 12 October 2011 © 2011 American Medical Association
Folic Acid Supplements in Pregnancy and Severe Language Delay in Children. Christine Roth, Per Magnus, Synnve Schjølberg, et al.

Category: N. Neurological, W. Pregnancy, Family Planning. Keywords: folate, folic acid, prenatal, supplementation, language delay, prospective observational study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 28 October 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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