Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0354 |
| Title: | Maternal folate supplementation in pregnancy and protection against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood: a case-control study |
| Author(s): | Judith R Thompson, Patrick Fitz Gerald, Michael L N Willoughby, Bruce K Armstrong |
| Reference: | Lancet 2001; 358: 1935-40 |
| Place of Study: | Australia |
| Abstract: | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer in more-developed countries but it has few recognised risk factors or preventive measures. This study aimed to determine and assess the risk factors associated with this disease.
From 1984 to 1992, the authors investigated known and suspected risk factors for common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia diagnosed in a population-based case-control study of children aged 0-14 years in Western Australia. 83 children in the study group came from the sole referral centre for paediatric cancer in the state and 166 controls matched for age and sex were recruited through a postal survey of people randomly selected from the state electoral roll. The authors interviewed mothers of 83 study and 166 control children (82% and 74%, respectively, of those eligible). Fathers completed a self-administered questionnaire.
A protective association was recorded between iron or folate supplementation in pregnancy and risk of common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the child (odds ratio 0·37 [95% CI 0·21-0·65]; p=0·001). For iron alone, the odds ratio was 0·75 (0·37-1·51); only one mother took folate without iron. Further analyses of folate use with or without iron (0·40; 0·21-0·73) showed that the protective effect varies little by time of first use of supplements or for how long they were taken. The association was not weakened by adjustment for potentially confounding variables.
These results, though unexpected, suggest that folate supplementation in pregnancy reduces the risk of common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the child.
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| Keyword(s): | folic acid, lymphoblastic leukaemia |
| Discussion: | No discussion mentioned for this entry |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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