Natalie W. Geary MD
According to new research out of Johns Hopkins, folic acid or vitamin B9 may not only prevent birth defects, but may also decrease allergies and reduce asthma symptoms.
In their study, people with higher blood levels of folate had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and lower likelihood of asthma, researchers report. Apparently, there is a link between folate levels and inflammation-mediated diseases, including heart disease.
“Our findings are a clear indication that folic acid may indeed help regulate immune response to allergens, and may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms,” says lead investigator Elizabeth Matsui, M.D., M.H.S., pediatric allergist at Johns Hopkins Children’s.
In their study, they also found that people with the lowest folate levels (below 8 nanograms per milliliter) had 40 percent higher risk of wheezing than people with the highest folate levels (above 18 ng/ml) and those with the lowest folate levels had 31 percent higher risk of atopy (allergic symptoms) and 16 percent higher risk of having asthma than people with the highest folate levels.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Asthma affects more than 7 percent of adults and children in the United States, and is the most common chronic condition among children. Environmental allergies are estimated to affect 25 million Americans.
Many cereals and grain products are already fortified with folate, and folate is found naturally in green, leafy vegetables, beans and nuts. The researchers are busy studying how folate actually works to prevent inflammation and allergy. Meanwhile, be sure your child is getting folate and discuss with your doctor whether supplementation is appropriate.