Pre-pregnancy folic acid cuts risk of early birth

Women who take folic acid supplements for at least one year before they become pregnant may cut their risk of having a premature baby more than  by half, according to research published in the on-line journal, PLOS  Medicine.

The study links pre-conceptional folate supplementation of at least one  year to reduced early premature delivery rates of 50% to 70%, regardless  of age, race or other factors. Of particular note is the drop in very  early premature births, those babies who are at the greatest risk of  complications such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung  disease and blindness.