Researchers Suggest One Way to Reduce Autism Risk
WELL-TIMED PRENATAL VITAMINS MAY REDUCE RISK OF AUTISM
Researchers have concluded that taking prenatal vitamins for three months before becoming pregnant and one month after getting pregnant lowers the risk of having a child with autism, especially for genetically susceptible mothers and children. (Prenatal vitamins are supplements that are recognized by health organizations, such as the American Dietetic Association, as increasing the likelihood of a healthy newborn.)
Mothers of autistic children were 4.5 times more likely both to have genotypes linked to greater risk of having autistic children, and to report not having taken prenatal vitamins during the three months prior to, and the first month of, pregnancy.
Taking prenatal supplements after the first month of pregnancy had no effect on the risk of having an autistic child. Researchers suggested that folic acid, which is synthetic vitamin B9, and other B vitamins in prenatal vitamins might help protect against deficits in early fetal brain development, even among the genetically susceptible.
Due to possible inaccuracies involved in interviewing women years after giving birth, the team stressed the need for further research. This just-released study will be published in the July, 2011 issue of the journal Epidemiology and is available online now at http://bit.ly/jAVqh9.
A New Tool in Heart Attack Prevention
FOLIC ACID & HEART ATTACK PREVENTION
New research explains why folic acid supplements help prevent a first heart attack but has failed in studies to show benefit in preventing a second occurrence. The B vitamin, folic acid, lowers homocysteine in the blood, an effect linked to a reduced heart attack risk. Yet providing folic acid to heart patients has failed to lower the risk of a second attack. Analysis of 75 studies involving about 50,000 people, and clinical trials involving about 40,000 people, showed that heart patients often are placed on aspirin therapy. Aspirin reduced homocysteine levels, which means patients received no extra benefit from the folic acid.
Folic acid taken by those who have not yet suffered a heart attack – and therefore, are not yet on aspirin therapy – lowered homocysteine levels and helped prevent attacks. This suggests folic acid supplements may be an effective replacement for aspirin, which can involve side effects, and thus help prevent both first and subsequent attacks. This study, released February 2, 2011, will not appear in print until a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/h1KRuP without charge.
Pecans = Antioxidant Powerhouse
Pecans are an antioxidant powerhouse. 
Of all tree nuts, pecans have the highest antioxidant content.
They also fall within the top 15 foods overall that hold the greatest antioxidant content.
According to a study in a recent issue of Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research, eating just a handful of pecans a day may delay the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration and such diseases as amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Pecans provide over 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and several B vitamins. They are naturally cholesterol-free and, unless salted, sodium-free.
Folate May Prevent Alcohol Damage In Festuses
A study on mice suggests that high levels of the B vitamin folate – folic acid – prevented heart-related birth defects caused by alcohol exposure during early pregnancy, a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome.
Alcohol-related congenital heart defects can develop in the embryo during a period when a woman may still be drinking because she does not yet know she is pregnant, a period of perhaps 16 to 18 days. The dose of folate required was considerably larger than the standard dietary recommendation of 400 micrograms.
The researchers stressed that the protective effect was only seen when folate was taken very early in pregnancy and prior to the time of alcohol exposure. The study was released in brief summary format but the full-text version is available for the payment of a fee at the following web page of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology:
http://bit.ly/cP8J7b.