Folic Acid Supplement Not Linked To Childhood Asthma

Although there have been previous reports connecting folic acid supplements used in pregnancy and child hood asthma, according to a Dutch study there is no link between the two. Researchers in the Netherlands studied 2,834 pregnant women, some were on folic acid supplements. They followed their children's health and collected data on eczema and wheezing using questionaires, at these time after delivery.

• Three months
• Seven months
• Twelve months
• Twenty four months
• Four- five years
• Six to seven years

At 6-7 years the children were assessed for asthma. Almost 7% of children developed asthma whether their mothers took folic acid supplements or not. Lung function and allergic reactions were also similar among those whose mothers took folic acid and those whose mothers did not. According to the report, the study did not confirm an association between folic acid supplements used in pregnancy and asthma in the child.