Thousands of studies have been conducted into the causes of autism, as well as into ways that expecting mothers can attempt to reduce their child’s risk of developing the condition. Recently, an investigation linked the initiation of a regimen of vitamin supplements to the decreased risk of having a baby later diagnosed with autism.

The report was published in the journal Epidemiology. In it, researchers announced that women who did not take a daily dietary supplement before and during the first month of pregnancy were almost twice as likely to have children with autism spectrum disorders, compared to those who started such a supplementation schedule early.

The study, which was conducted by scientists at the University of California, Davis’ Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, also found that a woman with a genetic predisposition to autism is seven times as likely to have an affected child if she starts supplements late.

Researchers from the MIND Institute said that this effect was strong and statistically significant. They added that taking a daily multivitamin, especially one containing folate, is an easy way for women to improve the chances that their children will be born healthy.