Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Can folic acid protect against congenital heart defects in Down syndrome?

Willemijn M Meijer1, Martha M Werler, Carol Louik

  • 1Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215-1201, USA.

Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology
|October 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Folic acid (FA) supplementation did not show a protective effect against heart anomalies in infants with Down syndrome (DS). This study found no evidence that maternal FA use prevents congenital heart defects in children with DS.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Genetics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Congenital heart anomalies are common in infants with Down syndrome (DS).
  • Maternal factors may influence the risk of heart anomalies in DS infants.
  • Previous studies suggested folic acid (FA) may protect against congenital heart defects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if first-trimester folic acid (FA) use protects against heart anomalies in children with Down syndrome (DS).

Main Methods:

  • Case-control study of women with liveborn DS children (1976-1997).
  • Cases: DS infants with heart anomalies; Controls: DS infants without heart anomalies.
  • Exposure defined as FA use for ≥4 days/week during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Main Results:

  • No protective effect of FA was found for heart anomalies overall in DS infants (OR 0.95).
  • FA showed no protective effect for specific defects like conotruncal defects, VSDs, ASDs, or ECDs.
  • 49% of cases and 46% of controls were exposed to FA.

Conclusions:

  • This study found no evidence that folic acid (FA) protects against heart anomalies in infants with Down syndrome (DS).
Abstract

More Related Videos

Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods08:28

Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods

Published on: March 10, 2020

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System07:34

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System

Published on: May 5, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Meiosis I01:49

Meiosis I

Meiosis is a carefully orchestrated set of cell divisions, the goal of which—in humans—is to produce haploid sperm or eggs, each containing half the number of chromosomes present in somatic cells elsewhere in the body. Meiosis I is the first such division, and involves several key steps, among them: condensation of replicated chromosomes in diploid cells; the pairing of homologous chromosomes and their exchange of information; and finally, the separation of homologous chromosomes by a...
Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Nondisjunction01:29

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.