Can folic acid prevent Down syndrome?

Folic acid has been shown to dramatically decrease the incidence of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in newborns. It has also been suggested that the B vitamin could reduce incidence of Down's syndrome, found in the same at-risk families as neural tube defects by a recent study​.

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How much folic acid should I take to prevent Down syndrome?

For three decades, the US Public Health Service has recommended that all people capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Folic acid is an important part of planning for a healthy pregnancy.

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Does folic acid reduce risk Down syndrome?

Current supplementation policies designed to prevent neural tube defects may incidentally prevent Down's syndrome, provided a sufficiently high dose of folic acid is used.

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How can I reduce my baby's risk of Down syndrome?

Commit to Healthy Choices to Help Prevent Birth Defects
  1. Plan ahead. Get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. ...
  2. Avoid harmful substances. Avoid alcohol at any time during pregnancy. ...
  3. Choose a healthy lifestyle. Keep diabetes under control. ...
  4. Talk with your healthcare provider.

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What birth defects does folic acid prevent?

When the baby is developing early during pregnancy, folic acid helps form the neural tube. Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida). The neural tube forms the early brain and spine.

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Can folic acid prevent Down syndrome?

19 related questions found

What makes you high risk for Down's syndrome baby?

Women who are 35 years or older when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy affected by Down syndrome than women who become pregnant at a younger age.3-5However, the majority of babies with Down syndrome are born to mothers less than 35 years old, because there are many more births among younger women ...

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What triggers Down syndrome?

About 95 percent of the time, Down syndrome is caused by trisomy 21 — the person has three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two copies, in all cells. This is caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell.

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What are the odds of having a Down syndrome baby?

Risk for chromosome problems

The chance of having a child with Down syndrome increases over time. The risk is about 1 in 1,250 for a woman who conceives at age 25. It increases to about 1 in 100 for a woman who conceives at age 40. The risks may be higher.

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Can stress cause Down syndrome in pregnancy?

Down syndrome, which arises from a chromosome defect, is likely to have a direct link with the increase in stress levels seen in couples during the time of conception, say Surekha Ramachandran, founder of Down Syndrome Federation of India, who has been studying about the same ever since her daughter was diagnosed with ...

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What weeks of pregnancy is folic acid most important?

If you're at high risk for having a baby with an NTD, take 4,000 mcg of folic acid each day to help prevent an NTD. Start taking 4,000 mcg of folic acid 3 months before you get pregnant through 12 weeks of pregnancy.

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What is the best vitamin for Down syndrome?

People with Down syndrome may be deficient in vitamin B12 and may benefit from supplementation. The red blood cells of people with Down syndrome are unusual in ways that suggest either vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency.

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Can folic acid help lower the risk of nervous system birth defects?

Folic acid can reduce certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord by more than 70 percent. These birth defects are called neural tube defects (NTDs). NTDs happen when the spinal cord fails to close properly. The most common neural tube defect is spina bifida.

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What supplements can prevent Down syndrome?

An adequate intake of folic acid during pregnancy, believed to protect against neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies, may also help prevent Down's syndrome, researchers report in The Lancet​ this week.

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Can too much folic acid affect fetus?

But even though folic acid is important, taking too much could be problematic. Research is pointing to some possible negative effects of consuming too much folic acid, such as impaired fetal growth, increased risks of childhood diseases like asthma and autism, and promoting the growth of some cancer cells.

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Can a fetus get too much folic acid?

The bottom line:

Consuming much more folate or vitamin B12 than the guidelines may be harmful to a developing fetus, but more studies will be needed to bear that out.

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Which parent carries the gene for Down syndrome?

It is well known that the extra chromosome 21 originates from the mother in more than 90% of cases, the incidence increases with maternal age and there is a high recurrence in young women.

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Who is most likely to get Down syndrome?

Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels. The risk increases with the mother's age (1 in 1250 for a 25 year old mother to 1 in 1000 at age 31, 1 in 400 at age 35, and about 1 in 100 at age 40). However, 80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to women under age 35 years.

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Is 1 in 10000 low risk for Down syndrome?

Down's syndrome occurs in 10 in every 10,000 births. Edwards' syndrome occurs in 3 in every 10,000 births. Patau's syndrome occurs in 2 in every 10,000 births. A screening test for these conditions, called the “combined test”, is available between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.

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Does father's age affect Down syndrome?

As men age, their risk of fathering a child with Down syndrome may increase—the older the man, the more likely that the process of spermatogenesis, or sperm production will go awry, leading to sperm that contain errors like an extra chromosome.

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Who causes Down syndrome mother or father?

In the majority of cases, the extra copy of chromosome 21 comes from the mother in the egg. In a small percentage (less than 5%) of cases, the extra copy of chromosome 21 comes from the father through the sperm.

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Can Down syndrome be prevented?

How can I prevent Down syndrome? You can't prevent Down syndrome since it's a genetic condition. To learn more about your risk of having a child with a genetic condition, talk to your healthcare provider about genetic testing.

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Is morning sickness related to Down syndrome?

Who is most at risk for morning sickness? Anyone who is pregnant may experience morning sickness. A few circumstances may increase your risk, such as carrying multiple babies or a baby with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).

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What trimester is Down syndrome detected?

Screening for Down syndrome can be performed as early as 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy with a first trimester ultrasound and blood test. Screening can also be performed between 15 and 20 weeks by a blood test referred to as the multiple marker serum screening test.

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Can you tell if baby has Down syndrome from ultrasound?

An ultrasound can detect fluid at the back of a fetus's neck, which sometimes indicates Down syndrome. The ultrasound test is called measurement of nuchal translucency. During the first trimester, this combined method results in more effective or comparable detection rates than methods used during the second trimester.

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