Clinical Study Title:
Multivitamin supplementation and risk of birth defects.

Plain English Summary:

Neural tube defect (NTD) in babies is thought to be somewhat preventable by using a multivitamin supplement during pregnancy. Babies with various birth defects, aborted fetuses with birth defects, and babies without birth defects were examined, and the mothers were contacted about their pregnancy nutritional behaviors. The behaviors of the mothers of the babies and aborted fetuses with birth defects were compared to the behaviors of the mothers of the babies without birth defects. It was found that the mothers who used a multivitamin were less likely to have babies with birth defects, with the exception of cardiac deformities. This suggests that multivitamin usage before and during pregnancy also prevents against other birth defects beyond NTD.

Authors

Werler MM. Hayes C. Louik C. Shapiro S. Mitchell AA.

Institution

Slone Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA, USA.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

American Journal of Epidemiology. 150(7):675-82, 1999 Oct 1.