(CNN) Taking prenatal vitamins during the first month of pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of developing autism in children who are at high risk for the disorder, according to a new study. Researchers followed 241 children whose older siblings had a diagnosis of autism and who therefore had an increased risk of being diagnosed with the disorder. Of the children whose mothers took prenatal vitamins in the first month of the pregnancy, 14.1% went on to develop autism, compared with 32.7% in children whose mothers did not. Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that results in behavioral and social changes, including communication. This means prenatal vitamins with greater concentrations of folic acid and iron seemed to work better at preventing autism in children at risk.

Source: CNN February 27, 2019 15:56 UTC