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Do multivitamin or folic acid supplements reduce the risk for congenital heart defects? Evidence and gaps
Author(s) -
Botto Lorenzo D.,
Mulinare Joseph,
Erickson J. David
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.20132
Subject(s) - multivitamin , offspring , medicine , pregnancy , folic acid , heart disease , pediatrics , endocrinology , vitamin , biology , genetics
Congenital heart defects are among the most common congenital anomalies and are the leading cause of infant death due to congenital anomalies. Except for a few known measures, effective primary prevention is not yet feasible for most heart anomalies. Recent reports have associated the use of multivitamin supplements around the time of conception and during early pregnancy with a reduced risk for heart defects in the offspring. We review and discuss the evidence and suggest a framework for further investigation in this area. Published 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.