Folic acid may lessen allergies, asthma

BALTIMORE, May 1 (UPI) -- Folic acid, known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects, may also suppress allergic reactions, U.S. researchers said.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore and colleagues said that they have found a link between folate levels and inflammation-mediated diseases, including heart disease.

The researcher reviewed the medical records of more than 8,000 people ages 2-85 to track the effect of folate levels on respiratory and allergic symptoms and on levels of IgE antibodies -- immune system markers that rise in response to an allergen.

The study, published online ahead of print in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, found people with higher blood levels of folate had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and lower likelihood of asthma.

"Our findings are a clear indication that folic acid may indeed help regulate immune response to allergens, and may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms," lead investigator Dr. Elizabeth Matsui said in a statement.

"But we still need to figure out the exact mechanism behind it, and to do so we need studies that follow people receiving treatment with folic acid, before we even consider supplementation with folic acid to treat or prevent allergies and asthma."