Consumo de ácido fólico en el embarazo y reducción del riesgo de trastornos del espectro autista

Abstract

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.