The Effect of Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation on Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Maternal folic acid supplementation may lower the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and behavioral problems in children. While evidence quality is low, benefits for neural tube defects (NTDs) support continued supplementation.
Area Of Science
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background
- Maternal folic acid supplementation is crucial for preventing neural tube defects (NTDs).
- The impact of prenatal folic acid on offspring neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) requires further clarification.
- Existing evidence synthesis on folic acid and NDDs is fragmented.
Purpose Of The Study
- To conduct an umbrella review evaluating the association between maternal folic acid supplementation and offspring NDDs.
- To synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic.
- To assess the quality and certainty of the available evidence.
Main Methods
- Systematic search of major databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science) up to June 2025.
- Inclusion of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of non-randomized studies.
- Quality assessment using AMSTAR-2 and evidence certainty using GRADE framework.
Main Results
- 23 systematic reviews/meta-analyses were included; many had methodological limitations.
- Meta-analyses suggested a protective effect: OR 0.66 for ASD, 0.86 for ADHD, 0.75 for behavioral problems.
- No significant associations found for motor, intellectual/cognitive, or language development; conclusions were inconsistent across reviews.
Conclusions
- Maternal folic acid supplementation may reduce the risk of ASD, ADHD, and behavioral problems.
- Current evidence is of low quality, necessitating further research.
- Supplementation is justified due to established NTD prevention benefits.
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