A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has found that two of three women of childbearing age have at least one modifiable lifestyle-related risk factor that could increase the chances of serious birth defects.
The study identified several common and preventable risk factors linked to birth defects, including food insecurity, low levels of folate or vitamin B12, unmanaged diabetes, obesity and exposure to cigarette smoke. “These risk factors may contribute to birth defects through the one-carbon cycle metabolism, a series of pathways essential for cell growth and replication,” explained the study’s lead author.
Some of the most prevalent birth defects associated with these risk factors include congenital heart defects, cleft lip and palate and neural tube defects. In addition, these same factors have been linked to other adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, premature birth and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Researchers analysed data from 5,374 women aged 12–49 years and found that 66.4 per cent had at least one modifiable risk factor for birth defects, while nearly 10 per cent had three or more. These findings emphasise both the widespread nature of these risks and the opportunity for intervention.
"Every growing family hopes for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Understanding modifiable risk factors for birth defects helps families, health care providers and public health professionals make data-informed decisions that can lead to healthier pregnancies and babies," the author concluded.
