Researchers Look for a Goldilock’s Quantity to Establish Correct Dosage
A new study from the MIND Institute at UC Davis found that high amounts of folic acid given to pregnant mice caused brain damage in their offspring. These findings were published last month in the journal Cerebral Cortex. Folic Acid has been shown to be neuroprotective and is widely recommended for women of child-bearing age. The UC Davis study involved exposing pregnant mice to differing levels of folic acid (the synthetic form of vitamin B9 or folate). The researchers compared three different groups of mice. One cohort was exposed to a normal amount of folic acid, another cohort received 10 times the recommended amount and the last cohort received no folic acid. The mice who received the largest amount of folic acid had offspring that exhibited the most significant brain injuries. In fact, the offspring of these mice had damage that mimicked and surpassed the damage done to the brains of the mice who received no folic acid during gestation. Impaired folate uptake into the brain can result in cerebral folate deficiency which has been associated with autism. The challenge now for these researchers is to find the “Goldilocks” or “just right” amount of folic acid for pregnant women to take in order to provide benefits to their unborn infant’s brain.
