title: Do multivitamin or folic acid supplements reduce the risk for congenital heart defects? Evidence and gaps.
abstract: Congenital heart defects are among the most common congenital anomalies and are the leading cause of infant death due to congenital anomalies. Except for a few known measures, effective primary prevention is not yet feasible for most heart anomalies. Recent reports have associated the use of multivitamin supplements around the time of conception and during early pregnancy with a reduced risk for heart defects in the offspring. We review and discuss the evidence and suggest a framework for further investigation in this area.
authors.affiliation: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. LBotto@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Lorenzo D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Botto
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulinare
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D005544:Forecasting; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid