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Folic acid supplements taken as prenatal vitamins greatly reduces risk of cleft lips and palates in infants: NewsTarget.com
A recent study published in the British Medical Journal has shown that folic acid, a B vitamin that has been proven to decrease instances of natal deformities in children, is effective in staving off another widespread birth defect: cleft lips and palates.
Previously, researchers had found that women who included folic acid in their diet prior to conception and during the early stages of pregnancy, had a 15 to 50 percent reduced risk of neural tube defects (NTD) in their children.
NTDs are caused when a fetus’ spine fails to close properly during the early stages of pregnancy. The most common form of NTD is spina bifida, which can cause limited to severe impairment of both cognitive and motor skills. The most severe form of NTD is anecephaly, where neither the brain nor the skull form fully.
The role of folic acid in the reduction of instances of NTDs led both the Canadian and
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Folic acid supplements taken by mothers greatly reduces risk of cleft lips and palates in infants
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