Folic Acid During Pregnancy Linked to Improved Emotional Intelligence and Resilience in Children
Summary: A small study presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference reports that children whose mothers took folic acid supplements throughout pregnancy showed higher emotional intelligence and resilience at age seven compared with children whose mothers only supplemented during the first trimester.
Key findings: Continuing folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with improved psychological outcomes in children, including better emotional awareness, regulation, and resilience.
Researchers from Ulster University, led by Professor Tony Cassidy, examined whether the benefits of folic acid in early pregnancy extend when supplementation is maintained throughout gestation. The team presented their findings on Thursday, 4 May, at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society in Brighton.
Professor Cassidy noted: “While it is well established that folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects, we wanted to explore whether continued supplementation during the remainder of pregnancy might also support children’s psychological development.”
The study followed a modest sample of 39 children, all aged seven at the time of assessment. Parents completed questionnaires measuring aspects of their child’s personality and emotional functioning, including measures of resilience, social relationships, and emotional expression. Within the sample, 22 mothers reported taking folic acid supplements for the entire pregnancy, while 19 mothers had taken folic acid only during the first trimester.
Analysis of parental reports indicated that children whose mothers supplemented with folic acid throughout pregnancy scored higher on measures of emotional intelligence and showed greater resilience than those whose mothers supplemented only during early pregnancy. In addition, higher levels of folic acid measured in maternal blood late in pregnancy were associated with better resilience and emotional functioning among the children.
Implications
The findings suggest potential psychological benefits of continued folic acid supplementation during pregnancy in addition to the established physical benefits for early neural development. If confirmed in larger studies, maintaining adequate folate levels across pregnancy could be a relatively simple and cost-effective strategy to support aspects of a child’s emotional development.
Limitations and next steps
The study is small and based on parent-reported measures, which can be influenced by reporting bias. The sample contained 39 children, and although the researchers measured maternal blood folate late in pregnancy, the observational design cannot prove causation. Larger, well-controlled studies that include objective developmental assessments and account for other nutritional, social, and environmental factors are needed to confirm these preliminary results and to clarify the mechanisms involved.
Conclusion
Professor Cassidy concluded: “Many expectant mothers are aware that folic acid in early pregnancy helps protect spinal and neural development. Our data indicate there may also be psychological advantages for children when folic acid supplementation continues throughout pregnancy. Further research will determine whether these findings hold in larger and more diverse samples.”
About this neuroscience research article
Source: British Psychological Society (BPS)
Image Source: Image adapted from the BPS news release.
Original research presentation: Study presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society in Brighton.
Citation suggestion: BPS. Taking Folic Acid During Pregnancy Has Positive Effect on Child’s Psychological Development. NeuroscienceNews. Presented 4 May 2017.
Please note: This article summarizes a single, small study and does not replace medical advice. Expectant mothers should consult healthcare providers about prenatal supplements and nutrition.