Excess Or Too Little Folate During Pregnancy May Raise the Risk of Congenital Heart Defects

The study observed that vitamin B12 deficiency and increased homocysteine levels are also relevant factors for increasing the risk of congenital heart defects. (Credit: image by senivpetro on Freepik)

Researchers have found that both excessive and reduced folate levels during pregnancy raise the risk of congenital heart defects.

Congenital heart defects are structural problems with the heart that occur during pregnancy when the baby's heart does not develop properly. It is the most common birth defect, that affects around 2.3% of births. The most common types include septal defects (holes in the heart), heart valve defects (problems with the valves that control blood flow), and defects in the large blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart.