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Folic acid not tied to childhood asthma

Magdelijns F. Pediatrics. 2011;doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1690.

Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may not increase a baby’s risk for wheezing and atopic diseases such as asthma and eczema, according to a study published online this month.

The findings, published by researchers from the Netherlands, conflict with previously published research that suggested an increased risk. Pregnant women are often encouraged to take folic acid during pregnancy, as these supplements have been associated with decreased risk for anemia and birth defects.

In the Netherlands study, researchers analyzed data of 2,834 children from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. The study uses questionnaires administered at 3, 7, 12 and 24 months, 4 to 5 years, and 6 to 7 years to discern information on atopic diseases. The researchers evaluated both multivitamin use and folic acid supplementation alone during pregnancy. Additionally, potential associations with intracellular folic acid levels were assessed for 837 women using blood samples taken at about week 35 in pregnancy.

The researchers found that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk for atopic diseases in babies, including asthma and wheezing.

“Higher [intracellular folic acid] levels in pregnancy tended, at most, toward a small decreased risk for developing asthma,” the researchers said, adding that additional data are necessary to derive any conclusions about folic acid use and subsequent asthma risk.

Disclosure: The study researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.

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