What does folic acid have to do with neural tube defects?
Consumption of folic acid, a B vitamin, before conception and during early pregnancy can prevent the occurence of some neural tube defects. In 1992, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that: “All women of childbearing age in the United States who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 0.4 mg of folic acid per day for the purpose of reducing their risk of having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida or other NTDs.” If all women of childbearing age took 0.4 mg of folic acid daily at least 1 month before conception through the first 3 months of pregnancy , the number of NTDs would decrease by 50 – 60%. Women who have previously had a child with a NTD should take 4.0 mg of folic acid daily. These women would have a 75% reduction in their risk of having another baby with a NTD.
