There’s another reason why expectant mothers to get their recommended dose of folic acid.

Folic acid is already recommended to prevent birth defects, but a new study suggests it could also lower the risk of autism.

Norwegian researchers tracked the use of folic acid supplements among 85,00 expectant moms, beginning four weeks before they became pregnant to eight weeks into their pregnancy.

Mothers who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy had a 40 percent reduced risk of having children with Autism, compared with mothers who did not take the supplement.