Study Suggests Folic Acid Supplementation During Pregnancy May Help Protect Against Lead’s Neurotoxic Effects
New research has discovered that the association between gestational blood lead levels (BLLs) and autistic-like behaviors in young children was stronger when folate levels, either through plasma concentrations or folic acid (FA) supplementation, were lower. No significant association was observed among participants with moderate folate levels, but those with the lowest folate levels showed a marked increase in autistic-like behaviors with higher BLLs. These findings suggest that folate may play a protective role against lead’s neurotoxic effects, supporting prior research that links folate with the potential mitigation of autism risks due to environmental toxins. Although results were less clear for participants with the highest folate levels, these insights emphasize the importance of FA supplementation during pregnancy for potential neuroprotective benefits. The authors call for future studies across diverse populations with varied neurodevelopmental outcomes are needed to validate these relationships further.
