Prenatal Vitamin Use Lowers Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Vulnerable Families

In families with a child who has ASD, taking vitamins in the first month of a later pregnancy halves the risk for ASD in the younger sibling.

In population-based studies, maternal prenatal vitamin intake, particularly folic acid, appears to reduce the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But the recurrence rate of ASD in families who have a child with ASD is upwards of 1 in 5 siblings, and whether the benefit of prenatal supplementation extends to these families is less clear. To examine this question, investigators prospectively enrolled mothers who had a child with confirmed ASD and who either were pregnant or were planning a pregnancy.

The sample included 241 younger siblings (58% boys), with a mean age of 36.5 months at final follow-up. Although 96% of mothers reported taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, only 36% took vitamins in the 6 months preceding pregnancy. AS…

Reviewing Author

Bryan H. King, MD, MBA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardGenentech, Simons Foundation, NIMH

Bryan H. King, MD, MBA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardGenentech, Simons Foundation, NIMH

Prenatal Vitamin Use Lowers Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Vulnerable Families

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Reviewing Author