Positional plagiocephaly and excessive folic acid intake during pregnancy

Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2012 Jan;49(1):1-4. doi: 10.1597/09-096. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship between high intake of folic acid and positional plagiocephaly.

Design: Retrospective case-control study with questionnaires administered in the clinic to biological mothers of children with positional plagiocephaly (PP group) and mothers of children without it (CO group).

Setting: Tertiary, institutional clinic. University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Exclusion criteria: mothers of children with syndromic disease or bone deformation and of children with clearly continuous forces on the skull (torticollis). A total of 94 mothers were included in the PP group (response rate: 85%), and 74 were included in the CO group (response rate: 75%). Final sample sizes were 75 in the PP group and 54 in the CO group.

Main outcome measures: The recommended daily dosage of folic acid in The Netherlands is 400 µg. The primary outcome was folic acid dosage in relation to the recommended dosage. A secondary outcome was duration of folic acid intake in relation to the recommended period of use during pregnancy.

Results: In the PP group, 20% used double the recommended dosage of folic acid, compared with 6% in the CO group (p < .05). In the CO group, 59% used folic acid longer than recommended compared with 56% in the PP group (not significant). There were no differences in baseline characteristics except for gestational period: 39.5 weeks in the PP group and 37.9 in the CO group (p < .05).

Conclusion: Excessive daily intake of folic acid during pregnancy is seen among mothers of positional plagiocephaly patients.

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Folic Acid / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic / epidemiology*
  • Preconception Care
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Folic Acid