Cognitive Benefits of Folic Acid Supplementation During Pregnancy
Study Overview
This study explores how folic acid during pregnancy affects cognitive development in children. It focuses on the ZFP57 gene, which plays a key role in gene regulation and is influenced by folate levels.
Research Methods
We analyzed data from a previous clinical trial called FASSTT, which studied folic acid supplementation in pregnant women. We looked at health data from mothers and their children at age 11, including:
- Biometric measurements
- Blood tests
- DNA methylation analysis
- Cognitive assessments using the WISC-IV test
- Neural activity during language tasks
Key Findings
Our findings indicate that:
- Methylation of the ZFP57 gene is affected by folate levels.
- Higher methylation levels were linked to poorer cognitive performance in children.
- Differences in brain activity during language tasks were observed.
Conclusion
Although the study involved a small number of participants, it suggests that maternal folic acid supplementation may help improve cognitive development in children by influencing gene regulation. Further research with larger groups is needed to confirm these results.
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