Want a smarter baby? Taking this important supplement could be the secret – The Times of India

What you consume during pregnancy can have a profound impact on your child’s overall health. Not only a balanced diet, but prenatal supplements are also crucial for supporting the growth and development of the developing baby in the womb. A new pathbreaking study finds how an important supplement could work wonders for your kid’s verbal and behavioural skills by the time they turn six.
The study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5–9, 2025, in San Diego and online, says taking folic acid, a type of B vitamin early in pregnancy can boost brain health of the baby.
“Our study provides new information showing a positive connection between taking folic acid during early pregnancy and brain health outcomes in children, with no evidence of negative effects at higher doses,” said Dr. Kimford J. Meador, study author, professor of neurology and neurosciences at Stanford University and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.

Folic acid is a type of B vitamin and supports healthy cells development in the body. For pregnant women, this is one of the most important supplements and not getting enough of it can lead to birth defects in baby’s brain or spine. It is also naturally found in foods like leafy greens, eggs, broccoli and citrus fruits, but supplements are critical for expecting mothers or those trying to conceive.
Studies highlight the importance of folic acid supplements taken before pregnancy and during the first trimester. However, research also warns that too much of this vitamin during pregnancy could have side effects like increased risk of insulin resistance and stunted brain development.

In case you wonder, how much to take, the recommended daily dose for most pregnant women is 0.4 milligrams (mg). In case of women with epilepsy, the prescribed amount could be higher.

Details about the study

The study followed 345 six-year-olds out of which 262 were born to mothers with epilepsy while 83 were born to mothers without the condition.
The researchers analysed the folic acid intake of mothers during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, categorizing the children into groups according to their mothers’ daily dosage: none, up to 0.4 mg, more than 0.4 mg to 1.0 mg, more than 1.0 mg to 4.0 mg, and over 4.0 mg.
The kids were then tested for their verbal skills, including describing objects or actions displayed in an image using a single word through a series of tests. Parents also filled questionnaires measuring their children’s social, communication and daily living skills.
It was found that children whose mothers took folic acid scored an average of 108 on verbal tests, compared to 96 score for those whose moms skipped the vitamin.

The behavioral scores came even with a wider gap with 102 for the folic acid group versus 82 for the non-folic acid one.
When comparing high-dose and low-dose folic acid groups, researchers discovered that children in both categories performed similarly. Kids whose mothers took a low dose had an average verbal score of 110, while those whose mothers took a high dose scored 108. Both groups recorded identical average behavioral scores of 103.

“While previous studies have found risks with higher doses, these findings are reassuring for people who are pregnant or planning to have children,” Meador said. “Taking a higher dose of folic acid early in pregnancy may still positively impact the brain health of their child.”
However, more studies would be needed to know the optimal dose for folic acid, as could vary across different groups of women.