Pregnancy is a crucial period of life for a mother. During this period, the maternal body goes through various hormonal changes, and the nutrition needs of the body become more complex.

Multivitamin supplements are widely used among pregnant women to meet nutritional needs and to reduce the risks of birth defects, infections, and developmental disorders in their offspring. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant number of children worldwide. Many studies have explored the relationship between multivitamin usage during pregnancy and the occurrence of autism in children.

This article delves into the existing research to answer the question, does taking multivitamins during pregnancy decrease the risk of autism in children?.

The Importance of Multivitamins during Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the need for energy and nutrition increases to support the developing fetus. The maternal body needs additional nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, to ensure fetal growth and development.

Multivitamins contain various nutrients in adequate amounts, which are essential for healthy fetal development. Multivitamins serve as a great source of vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, calcium, and iron, which are all vital for the fetal development process.

Inadequate intake of these nutrients during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal malformations, low birth weight, and other fetal disorders.

What is Autism?

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. Autism manifests in early childhood and tends to persist throughout the individual’s life.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has no cure, and the cause of autism is still unknown. According to the American Psychiatric Association, Autism is characterized by repetitive behaviors, difficulty in socializing, restricted interests, and communication issues.

Link between Multivitamin Supplements and Autism

The link between multivitamins and autism is unclear. However, several studies have explored the correlation between multivitamin supplements during pregnancy and autism.

The studies have inconsistent results, with some suggesting a reduced risk, while others have found no link. A study conducted in Sweden in 2013 by Schmidt and colleagues found that mothers who used multivitamins during pregnancy had a reduced chance of having children who developed autism.

The study assessed frequency, timing, and completeness of multivitamin use among pregnant women.

The study found that women who used multivitamins three months before pregnancy and up to the first month of pregnancy had a 49% decreased risk of having a child with autism.

The study also found that the reduction in autism frequency was more significant in women who used they regularly used multivitamins compared to women who didn’t use multivitamins. In contrast, a study conducted by Devia Fisher and colleagues in Israel in 2018 found no link between multivitamin usage and autism in children.

Another study conducted in the United States and Canada found that the use of prenatal multivitamins did not decrease the risk of autism.

The study, which was based on an analysis of medical records, comprised of a large sample size, and found no difference in the risk of autism for children whose mothers used prenatal multivitamins during pregnancy.

Factors Influencing Results

Factors such as ethnicity, maternal age, smoking, use of multivitamin supplements, and folate intake, among others, have a bearing on the relationship between multivitamin use and autism.

The link between multivitamin use and autism may vary based on these factors. For example, research findings suggest that maternal age is a crucial factor in predicting the likelihood of autism. Women who are above 35 years old have an increased risk of having children with autism.

To determine the precise link between multivitamin supplements and autism, all these factors need to be taken into account.

The Role of Folate in Multivitamins

Folate is a B-vitamin that has a crucial role in regulating gene expression and DNA methylation, which is a process that modifies DNA by adding methyl group.

DNA methylation is significant in the development of the nervous system and has a crucial role in brain development. Folate is also essential in the production of red blood cells and helps in preventing neural tube defects.

Neural tube defects such as spina bifida are a form of congenital disability characterized by an incomplete closing of the neural tube in the early stages of development. Multivitamins prescribed to pregnant women contain sufficient amounts of folic acid.

Based on research, folic acid supplementation has been linked with a reduction in the incidence of autism and other neural tube defects.

This finding is attributed to the role that folate plays in the development of the nervous system and its function in regulating gene expression. Research studies have linked folic acid supplementation with a reduced chance of autism. However, the research still requires further study.

Conclusion

Does taking multivitamins during pregnancy decrease the risk of autism in children? Research studies on the link between multivitamin supplements and autism have presented inconsistent results.

While some studies have suggested a reduction in the occurrence of autism among children whose mothers took multivitamins during pregnancy, other studies have shown no link. Factors such as maternal age, ethnicity, smoking habits, and folate intake are crucial in predicting the link between multivitamin supplement usage and autism.

Multivitamin supplements prescribed to pregnant women contain sufficient amounts of folic acid, which has a crucial role in regulating gene expression and DNA methylation. While folate has been shown to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects linked to autism, there is still a need for more research to establish the link between multivitamin supplement usage and autism.