Maternal red blood cell folate and periconceptional folic acid supplementation are associated with neonatal brain maturation: a retrospective EEG–MRI study with term-equivalent imaging

Key Points

• Neonatal brain maturation is positively correlated with maternal red blood cell folate levels and folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period.
• The study observed significant differences in brain maturation metrics evaluated through EEG and MRI imaging techniques.
• Observational analysis across various term-equivalent imaging sessions highlighted critical associations between maternal nutrition and infant brain development outcomes.
• These findings may enable improved prenatal care practices, emphasizing the importance of maternal nutritional status for neonatal neurodevelopment.