Prenatal vitamins cut kid’s cancer rates, say Canadian researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto. More specifically, taking prenatal multivitamins fortified with folic acid can reduce the risk of three common childhood cancers: leukemia, brain tumours and neuroblastoma. Researchers say a "large proportion" of childhood cancers can be avoided.
"Our research indicates that a large proportion of [these] cancers can be prevented by taking a prenatal multivitamin before and during pregnancy, " said Dr Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk Program at Sick Kids hospital.
"This affordable approach could contribute to a significant reduction in the number of childhood cancer cases diagnosed each year."
After examining the findings of seven scientific articles that met the inclusion criteria, the study found that prenatal supplementation of multivitamins containing folic acid is associated with a 47% protective effect for neuroblastoma.
For leukemia, the protective effect is 39%; for brain tumours, 27%.
Source: Hospital for Sick Children, Feb 22, 2007
