The jury remains out on the exact causes of autism, although most experts agree that inherited tendencies play a significant role, including the presence of a genetic variation which upsets the mother’s ability to correctly utilise folic acid, which is essential for correct foetal development.
The finger has also been pointed at a variety of environmental factors, of which vaccination remains one of the most controversial.
Most of these issues fall outside of the prospective mother’s control, so it is very encouraging to learn that there is one simple self-help step that can dramatically reduce the risk of autism.
Related: The joys and challenges of raising an autistic child
According to a study published in Epidemiology, mothers who took prenatal vitamins in the three months prior to conception and the first months of pregnancy were significantly less likely — 28 percent — to have a child with autism, even if those mothers carried genes which increased their odds.
Interestingly, the results were not seen in women taking regular multivitamins, as prenatal vitamins contain more iron, vitamins B6 and B12, and folic acid.
Video: Autism in babies
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