Health Update: Vitamins research

VITAMIN supplements taken around the time of conception may reduce the risk of major congenital abnormalities, including cleft palate, limb and organ deficiencies and heart malformations, a new study from Hungary reveals.

Women of childbearing age are already advised to take folic acid to reduce the chance of neural tube defects in the baby, but researchers from Budapest suggest that other vitamins may help to prevent abnormalities.

In a study involving more than 4,000 pregnancies, published in the British Medical Journal, they found the rate was significantly lower among women taking a multi-vitamin supplement.