Posted by Hugh on January 6, 2018, at 19:55:22
In reply to Re: Too much folic acid, B12 harmful during pregnancy » Hugh, posted by linkadge on December 29, 2017, at 8:53:24
In the '70s and '80s, one in 2,000 children is the US had autism. Now, one in 68 children in the US has an ASD. Since 1996, flour products in the US have been fortified with folic acid. (Corn masa flour has been fortified with folic acid since 2016.) This has led to a decrease in the number of children born with spina bifida.
Women who take too much folic acid and/or B12 during pregnancy could be part of the reason that the autism rate is skyrocketing. Other possible reasons:
More children born prematurely are surviving, and these children are more likely to develop autism.
Parents are waiting longer to have children these days, and children born to older parents (especially an older father) may be more likely to develop autism.
We're better at diagnosing autism now than we used to be. Some people argue that this could be the sole reason that the autism rate is skyrocketing. I read an article in New Scientist several years ago that argued that this is part of the reason, but certainly not the sole reason.Changes in diet may have something to do with the increase. Starting in the '70s, Americans were told that eggs are bad for them. It's only recently that we've been told that eggs are actually good for us. Eggs are a rich source of choline, and getting plenty of choline during pregnancy may help to protect the offspring from developing autism.
Women who take antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy may be much more likely to have children who develop autism. Women who take antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy can decrease the risk that their children will develop autism by taking folic acid.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/890822
So, it's complicated.
poster:Hugh
thread:1096352
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20160521/msgs/1096525.html