Periconceptional folic acid intake and risk reduction of autism spectrum disorders
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Universidad Industrial de Santander
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Introducción: El ácido fólico se considera una molécula fundamental durante el desarrollo cerebral fetal. No hay claridad sobre el beneficio de esta intervención durante el embarazo para la reducción del riesgo de trastornos del espectro autista. Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia disponible entre el consumo de ácido fólico en el período periconcepcional y la presencia de los trastornos del espectro autista a través de una revisión bibliográfica. Materiales y métodos: Búsqueda en base de datos Pubmed y Clinical Trials utilizando los términos MeSH: “folic acid”, “autism”y “pregnancy”. Se incluyeron artículos de revisión y originales, en inglés y español, sin importar fecha de publicación. Resultados y discusión: Con la estrategia de búsqueda se encontraron inicialmente 90 estudios potenciales pero después de aplicar los criterios de inclusión culmina en cuatro estudios observacionales, dos de casos y controles, uno de cohorte y un estudio ecológico donde se evalua la asociación en cuestión en dicho período crítico. Defectos en la metilación corregidos con la administración de suplementos de ácido fólico podrían explicar el potencial benéfico en la prevención de trastornos del espectro autista. Conclusiones: La evidencia es escasa y poco consistente en evaluar si la ingesta de ácido fólico durante el periodo periconcepcional se constituye en un factor protector para el desarrollo de los trastornos del espectro autista. MÉD UIS. 2015;28(3):327-36.Palabras clave: Ácido fólico. Trastornos del espectro autista. Embarazo. Prevención primaria.
Introduction: Folic acid is considered an key molecule during fetal brain development. There have been potential benefits of this intervention during pregnancy such as reducing the risk of autism spectrum disorders. Objective: To analyze the evidence of folic acid in the periconceptional period for the prevention of autism spectrum disorders through a literature review. Materials and methods: A search of scientific articles was conducted in PubMed data base and Clinical Trials during the months of August 2014 to March 2015. The MeSH terms used were “folic acid”, “autism” and “pregnancy”. Review and original articles in English and Spanish are included, regardless of date of publication. Results: Four observational studies were found where the association is evaluated: two case-control, one cohort and one ecological study. Contradictory results are described, associated with the methodology of the studies. Methylation defects corrected with supplementation of folic acid could explain the potential benefit in preventing autism spectrum disorders. Conclusions: The evidence limited and inconsistent establishing that the intake of folic acid during the periconceptional period constitutes a protective factor for the development of autism spectrum disorders. MÉD UIS. 2015;28(3):327-36.Keywords: Folic acid. Autistic Disorder. Pregnancy. Primary Prevention.
Introduction: Folic acid is considered an key molecule during fetal brain development. There have been potential benefits of this intervention during pregnancy such as reducing the risk of autism spectrum disorders. Objective: To analyze the evidence of folic acid in the periconceptional period for the prevention of autism spectrum disorders through a literature review. Materials and methods: A search of scientific articles was conducted in PubMed data base and Clinical Trials during the months of August 2014 to March 2015. The MeSH terms used were “folic acid”, “autism” and “pregnancy”. Review and original articles in English and Spanish are included, regardless of date of publication. Results: Four observational studies were found where the association is evaluated: two case-control, one cohort and one ecological study. Contradictory results are described, associated with the methodology of the studies. Methylation defects corrected with supplementation of folic acid could explain the potential benefit in preventing autism spectrum disorders. Conclusions: The evidence limited and inconsistent establishing that the intake of folic acid during the periconceptional period constitutes a protective factor for the development of autism spectrum disorders. MÉD UIS. 2015;28(3):327-36.Keywords: Folic acid. Autistic Disorder. Pregnancy. Primary Prevention.