Iron, Magnesium Deficiencies Linked to Birth Defects 31217

Iron, Magnesium Deficiencies Linked to Birth Defects

NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands--Folic acid is well known for its ability toprevent birth defects such as spina bifida; however, it appears other nutrientsmay also play a critical role in this area, according to a new study publishedin the Journal of Nutrition (134:1516-22, 2004; www.nutrition.org).Dutch researchers compared maternal nutritional intake in 106 women who gavebirth to infants with spina bifida to data on 181 controls. Mothers withaffected offspring had significantly lower intakes of plant proteins, iron,magnesium and niacin. The researchers concluded low preconceptional intake ofthese nutrients was associated with a two- to five-fold increased risk of having achild with spina bifida.