Pregnant women who take folic acid can dramatically cut the chances of their baby having a cleft lip.Mothers-to-be are already advised to take supplements of the B vitamin to help prevent conditions such as spina bifida. But a study has found folic acid can reduce the risk of facial clefts by a third. One in 1,000 babies born in the UK has the condition, but researchers found the lowest risk was among women who combined a folate-rich diet, multivitamins and daily folic acid supplement. The Department of Health recommends women planning a pregnancy increase their intake of folic acid and also take a daily supplement. They are advised to continue taking folic acid for the first three months of a pregnancy. Researchers examined the effects of folic acid on facial clefts in Norway, which has one of the highest rates in Europe and found that taking folic acid supplements reduced the risk of a cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate, by a third.
January 2007
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