Taking folic acid supplements in early pregnancy was linked to a lower risk of autistic disorder in children in a study, suggesting the nutrient already recommended for mothers-to-be may carry an additional benefit. Mothers who took the supplements 4 weeks to 8 weeks after the start of pregnancy were 39 percent less likely to have children with autism, compared with mothers who didn’t take folic acid, according to the study. Researchers followed more than 85,000 babies born in Norway between 2002 and 2008 for as long as 10 years.
