Folic Acid Supplements Shown To Reduce Risk Of Autism

Doctors generally recommend that women take folic acid supplements if they plan to become pregnant - because the B-vitamin reduces the risk of life-threatening birth defects in their newborn. The March of Dimes, a private U.S. group that promotes maternal and child health, goes one step further. It urges that all women of childbearing age take these supplements, even if they are not planning a pregnancy. As VOA's Carol Pearson reports, a new study finds that folic acid supplements may also reduce the risk of a brain development disorder known as autism.