Folic acid supplements taken early in pregnancy

The article “Folic Acid Supplements Taken Early in Pregnancy Reduce Facial Cleft Risk” discusses the effect of folic acid supplements in health of pregnant women. The central claim is that folic aid supplements are affective in reducing chances of infants to be born with facial cleft. Therefore, folic acid are claimed to be beneficial for pregnant women. Moreover, researchers argue that folic acid supplements are effective in reducing the risk of neural tubes defects.

I agree that proper nutrition in early pregnancy do affect the health of future child and problems with nutrition may result in different birth defects as, for example, facial cleft. Therefore, the article is very useful for medical field. The article “Demographic and Prenatal Factors of Patients with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate” discusses cleft palate and cleft lip as the most common congenital abnormalities unit 12 public health m1.

Statistics shows that birth defects are ranging from one in every 500 in white population and one in every 2,000 in Afro-American population. The central argument is that genetic and etiologic factors do contribute cleft palate and cleft lip. The study provided has revealed no significant differences between family history and cleft type. The authors have found that birth order, smoking, first-trimester alcohol consumption and smoking do not often lead to cleft lip and cleft palate.

I think that the article lays further road to understanding better the etiology of cleft palate and cleft lip. The article “Smoking during Pregnancy Linked to Orofacial Clefts” discusses the effects of smoking on the health of fetus. The central argument is that smoking during the early pregnancy may result in orofacial clefts in fetus. According to statistics, maternal smoking during the early pregnancy has increased the odds of having cleft lip and cleft palate.

The increase is mall, but it is observed. Risk of orofacial clefts is related to the amount having been smoked. Additionally, passive smoking is also related to the increased risk of developing orofacial clefts. I agree that measures should be taken to make smoking mother aware of possible birth effects. I think it is necessary to incorporate information from the article into public health campaigns as consequences of maternal smoking in early pregnancy are not positive.