As many as 53 million U.S. women who can bear children have at least one risk factor that raises the likelihood of serious congenital abnormalities.

A
CDC
A study involving survey responses from over 5,300 women aged 12 to 49 found that more than 66% had at least one risk factor such as obesity,
diabetes
a history of tobacco use, inadequate access to food, and reduced amounts of a vital nutrient known as folic acid. More than 10% of women experienced three or more factors.

Scientists used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a top-tier CDC database holding health information ranging between 2007 and 2020.

Approximately 34% of the women in the research suffered from obesity, with roughly 5% having diabetes, whereas 80% exhibited a deficiency in folic acid, another term for vitamin B9, which plays an essential role during pregnancy in reducing the risk of neural tube defects in babies.

At the same time, almost one out of every five women was found to have encountered nicotine through smoking, using e-cigarettes, or breathing in secondhand smoke, factors that previous studies have indicated can greatly raise the chances of early labor, reduced baby weight, and fetal death,
and sudden infant death syndrome (sids)
.

Seven percent of women found it difficult to purchase healthy food, resulting in inadequate nutrition for the baby and an increased likelihood of obesity later in life. According to the research, women experiencing limited access to food may also have trouble affording pregnancy supplements, maintaining a balanced diet, or controlling their weight.

Congenital abnormalities are frequent, impacting approximately one out of every 33 newborns, and represent roughly one-fifth of all infant deaths.
infant deaths
They may vary from minor issues like fused toes or a twisted foot to severe conditions, including anencephaly—a disorder in which portions of the brain and skull fail to develop—or Trisomy 13, which leads to abnormal organ formation. They represent a major cause
of death in infants
representing approximately one out of every five.

Researchers identified certain risk factors that increased the likelihood of infants being born with heart abnormalities, like faulty valves, neural tube disorders such as spina bifida, and facial clefts, including cleft lip and cleft palate.

Although the specific reasons for congenital abnormalities remain unclear, experts typically concur that an intricate combination of inherited tendencies, external factors, and personal habits contributes to their occurrence.

Approximately 25% of congenital malformations result from genetic or chromosomal issues, such as Down syndrome, which occurs due to an additional chromosome.

Environmental factors, including infections during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, nutrient shortages such as insufficient folic acid, and contact with specific medications contribute to between five and ten percent of congenital abnormalities, as reported by the
NIH.

According to NIH researchers, scientists believe that ‘complex genetic or unidentified reasons’ account for 65 percent of many birth abnormalities.

They do not result from a single defective gene, but instead arise from a complicated interaction among multiple genes or a mix of inherited tendencies and unidentified external factors.

The research didn’t clarify precisely how the risk factors contribute to birth abnormalities, yet referenced the one-carbon pathway, a series of biochemical processes within the body that relies on nutrients such as folate, vitamin B12, and choline to synthesize DNA, control genetic activity, and aid cellular development.

Should the cycle experience issues, for instance, when levels of folic acid drop during pregnancy, it may interfere with DNA production and cellular reproduction within a growing fetus. This raises the likelihood of congenital abnormalities, especially those affecting the nervous system, including conditions such as spina bifida and fatal anencephaly.

Researchers continue to investigate precisely how a mother’s health can result in abnormalities in her child.

. Nevertheless, previous studies have indicated that obesity and diabetes may also lead to
change how the body
metabolizes folic acid and additional nourishments. Simultaneously,

smoking introduces toxins that
interfere with folate metabolism
and increase oxidative stress.

Experts stated: ‘Prior research has indicated that these risk factors could potentially be reduced by taking folic acid (FA) around the time of conception and during organ development.’

A growing baby requires folic acid to develop healthy new cells along with producing DNA and RNA. Folic acid is also crucial for forming regular red blood cells and amino acids.

Medical professionals suggest taking folic acid pills, which contain the artificial version of folate, instead of relying solely on food sources, since they are better absorbed by the body.

Folate naturally occurs in many foods, including dark green vegetables like spinach and kale, beans and other legumes, asparagus, avocados, and broccoli.

Citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, and enriched products such as cereals and breads—containing the artificial version known as folic acid—are also great providers of this essential nutrient.

Women of childbearing age should consume a daily dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid. However, individuals without consistent access to healthy meals are more unlikely to use prenatal supplements.

Almost seven percent of women experienced significant food hardship, indicating they often had difficulty affording sufficient meals. Regarding essential prenatal vitamins, the findings showed that approximately 28 percent of women used a folic acid supplement, but just 13 percent consumed the advised daily amount of 400 micrograms.

Nearly all women weren’t obtaining sufficient folate through their diet exclusively, and despite taking supplements, more than four out of five still did not meet the advised intake level.

Blood tests verified these deficiencies, revealing that 1 out of every 5 women had folate concentrations insufficient to raise the likelihood of serious neural tube abnormalities. These are significant conditions affecting infants that develop during the initial stage of pregnancy, when the early structure responsible for forming the brain and spine does not seal correctly.

The research revealed that fewer than half of women in their teenage years and early twenties exhibited risk factors, but this figure rose to almost three-fourths among women between the ages of 35 and 49, primarily due to the higher occurrence of issues such as obesity and diabetes as people get older.

The study also revealed significant racial and socioeconomic inequalities. Non-Hispanic Black women experienced the greatest impact, with 80 percent presenting at least one risk factor, versus 62 percent among non-Hispanic White women.

Non-white Black women also experienced the highest instances of serious food hardship and the least amounts of folic acid.

In addition, females experiencing financial hardship had significantly greater chances of facing several risk factors than those with higher earnings.

Recent discoveries have been released in the
International Journal of Preventive Medicine
.

Most birth abnormalities are long-term, like microphthalmia, leading to permanent visual loss; spina bifida, requiring ongoing support with movement, urinary and digestive functions, and risk of fluid accumulation in the brain; and down syndrome, involving lasting effects such as cognitive challenges, potential cardiac issues, and increased chances of additional medical problems.

Read more

• Is eliminating carbohydrate-rich bread throughout pregnancy linked to a higher chance of neural tube abnormalities and hinder the fetus from receiving essential folic acid?
• Do prenatal vitamins significantly reduce infant mortality by addressing premature and underweight births?
• Could low levels of iron in the first trimester be secretly responsible for numerous cases of fatal heart abnormalities in newborns across the UK annually?
• Can inaccurate prenatal tests endanger the well-being of mothers and infants? Learn how gestational diabetes is being overlooked.
• Might reductions in financial support result in severe consequences for pregnant women, and what troubling numbers highlight this issue?