Folic acid supplementation may lower pregnancy hypertension risk!

Understanding how different types of prenatal supplements impact hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) is crucial for maternal health. A recent study published in “Medical Principles and Practice” explored the effects of folic acid-only (FAO) versus multiple micronutrients containing folic acid (MFA) supplements on these risks. Researchers analyzed data from 25,866 women in this retrospective cohort study.

They used Poisson regression to examine the link between supplementation patterns and hypertensive disorders diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy and considered factors like pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal age. Periconceptional folic acid use slightly diminished HDP risk (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 0.87, 95% CI 0.73-1.04). Additionally, those who commenced supplementation before conception depicted a lower risk of gestational hypertension as opposed to those who began after conception (aRR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.45-0.78).

Women with a normal BMI (aRR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.49-0.84)  or aged 30+ (aRR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.98) who began FAO before conception experienced further risk reductions. Taking folic acid supplements prior to conception can help to alleviate the risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The benefits are more pronounced for women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI and those aged 30 or older who took supplements before conception.