What you need to know about study on folic acid and autism

A new study suggests a possible link between high levels of folic acid in pregnant women and an increased risk of their children developing an autism spectrum disorder.

But CBS News' Dr. Jon LaPook says some headlines have been misleading, and pregnant women should continue taking folic acid.

"There's no doubt that women who have too little intake of folic acid during pregnancy have an increased risk in having kids with severe neurological problems," Dr. LaPook said.

According to LaPook, the report is still very preliminary, and a lot more needs to be studied.

"This does not mean that taking too much B12 or folate causes autism, it's an association," LaPook said. "We do not want women to misinterpret this headline."

To learn more about Dr. LaPook's assessment of the study, watch the video above.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.