Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

595

Prenatal Folic Acid Supplements and Offspring's Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression

Xian Liu1,2, Mingyang Zou2, Caihong Sun2

  • 1Division of Birth Cohort Study, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|March 20, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy significantly lowers the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in offspring. Consuming at least 400 mcg daily from diet and supplements is linked to reduced ASD risk.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a significant public health concern.
  • The role of prenatal nutrition, specifically folic acid, in neurodevelopment is an area of ongoing research.
  • Understanding modifiable factors during pregnancy is crucial for preventing neurodevelopmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on the association between maternal folic acid supplementation and the risk of offspring's autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
  • To identify optimal folic acid supplementation strategies for ASD risk reduction.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies.
  • Inclusion of 10 studies comprising 23 sub-studies with a total of 9795 cases of ASD.
  • Analysis of data on folic acid intake timing and dosage.

Main Results:

  • Maternal folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of offspring's ASD (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.78).
  • Daily intake of at least 400 μg of folic acid from dietary sources and supplements showed a significant association with reduced ASD risk (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.83).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal folic acid supplementation is a potentially effective strategy for reducing the risk of autism spectrum disorders in offspring.
  • Specific strategies, including optimal timing and dosage of folic acid intake, are critical for maximizing preventative benefits.
  • This meta-analysis provides evidence-based insights for the primary prevention of ASD.

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderFolic acidMeta-analysisMeta-regressionPrenatal

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