Prenatal Vitamins Can Lower Risk Of Autism?

Prenatal

oi-Anjana NS

By Anjana Ns

Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 16:31

A new study that was recently conducted on prenatal vitamins say that it can cut chances of disorders like Autism by at least half. A research reported in the online edition of the journal of Epidemiology stated that women who consumed vitamins in the prenatal phase had lesser chances of their kids suffering from Autism (less by 7 times) than other pregnant women.

The UC Davis MIND Institute Researchers conducted their study over 700 families with children (2-5-yr-old) suffering from the developmental disorder. One of the surprising results that came up during the research was that the vitamins taken before or during the first month of pregnancy did affect while the second month and so on made no difference suggesting that the vitamins need to be only during the pre of the prenatal phase.

The cure for the genetic disorder actually came in because a strong correlation link between the two gene mutations strongly determines the Autism risk. Two genes
methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene are linked to the child disorder. Women, who consumed MTHFR and COMT variants were more than 4 times less likely to have a child with autism than women without them.

With this, the medical community is hoping for more inexpensive ways like these that can help in reasonable reducing the risk of Autism.

So What Are Prenatal Vitamins?

They are vitamin supplements that are taken before or during pregnancy. Sometimes the vitamins are also consumed in the postnatal phase that is during lactation.

Prenatal vitamins are taken by women for a healthy pregnancy. They are simlar to multivitamins and contain different type of nutrients for the expecting and the foetus.

The generally contain folic acid, calcium and iron in higher concentrations.

Side effects:
Women who often take Prenatal Vitamins complain of constipation.

Form:
Prenatal vitamins are available in the form of tablets, liquids, soft chews etc.

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