RESEARCH STUDY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Scientists are appealing for women who have experienced a neural tube defect pregnancy to take part in an important new study.

Women planning a pregnancy are already encouraged to take folic acid before conception and in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects (NTD).

But scientists believe that the lack of another vitamin – inositol – can also cause the baby to develop NTD or even anencephaly, where the brain is largely absent.

Now the Medical Research Council has funded research led by Professor Andrew Copp at the Institute of Child Health in London.

The PONTI study – Prevention of Neural Tube Defects by Inositol – began earlier this year and ASBAH has agreed to help the team by asking women who have experienced a NTD pregnancy to join the study and perhaps take vitamin inositol (as well as folic acid) if they are planning another pregnancy.

No dangers or side effects of inositol are known. It has been used in high does to treat other conditions and is naturally widespread in many foods and some health supplements. No problems have ever been found.

Anyone wishing to know more, or is considering taking part, should contact Rosemary Batchelor, ASBAH’s senior health adviser, on 01733 421306.

You can find further details on the study website: www.pontistudy.ich.ucl.ac.uk or by emailing ponti@ich.ucl.ac.uk