Negative effects of plastics additive blocked by supplemental folic acid
Epigenetics is a term referring to changes in gene expression which do not result in changes to the gene itself. Research in animals has shown that what a pregnant mother eats can alter the expression of genes in her offspring, making them more susceptible to certain diseases later in life.
In their most recent experiments, Duke University Medical Center investigators demonstrated that exposure within the womb to bisphenol A (BPA), an ubiquitous chemical used in the production of plastics, caused noticeable changes in the offspring without altering any of the offspring’s genes. Additionally, the researchers discovered that administration of folic acid or genistein, an active ingredient in soy, during pregnancy protected the offspring from the negative effects of BPA.