Early pregnancy folate associated with child hyperactivity

The authors of this paper recently published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry being by noting:

"Maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been linked with fetal brain development and psychopathology in the offspring. We examined for associations of maternal folate status and dietary intake during pregnancy with brain growth and childhood behavioural difficulties in the offspring."

They correlated maternal red blood cell folate (RCF) at 14 weeks of pregnancy and total folate intake (TFI) from food and supplements with their childrens' behavioral difficulties. What did the data show?

"Lower maternal RCF and TFI in early pregnancy were associated with higher childhood hyperactivity and peer problems scores in the offspring....analyses showed significant inverse indirect associations of RCF with hyperactivity/inattention and peer problems via fetal brain growth."

Their conclusion:

"...our data provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that lower folate status in early pregnancy might impair fetal brain development and affect hyperactivity/inattention and peer problems in childhood."

Here we have another compelling reason to ascertain good folate status in early pregnancy, or (even better) before becoming pregnant. Although conventional blood tests for serum folate are not dependable, a convenient and reliable way to do determine folate adequacy is by measuring the organic acid formiminoglutamate in the urine.