chds and the environment

Birth Defect Research for Children (www.birthdefects.org) has started a new network for heart defect support groups and families who have children with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs). to provide information about the latest research on the connections between CHDs and environmental exposures. Briefs for new studies will be posted on this site each month. Families and support groups for CHDs are also invited to post their comments.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Folic Acid May Play Role in Prevention of Congenital Heart Defects

A study in the March 2006 issue of European Heart Journal by the Children's Heart Center in the Netherlands has reported that mothers with certain gene variants for folate metabolism have an increased risk of conotruncal heart defects in their children if they do not take folic acid in the periconceptual period. These findings suggest a protective role for folate supplementation in the prevention of conotruncal heart defects in mothers with these gene variants.

Maternal MTHFR 677C>T is a risk factor for congenital heart defects: effect modification by periconceptional folate supplementation.
Eur Heart J. 2006 Mar 7

posted by Birth Defect Research for Children @ 7:27 AM   2 comments