Folic acid, also known as vitamin B-9, is essential for nervous system development in a fetus. Babies born to women who don't receive enough folic acid may experience serious birth defects. Eating foods high in folate or taking vitamin supplements containing folic acid can help prevent defects in the spinal cord or brain.
Identification
Folate, the naturally occurring form of B-9, is found in broccoli, spinach, peanuts and lentils. Folic acid may be added to such foods as cereal, pasta and bread. Folic acid plays a vital role in the development of DNA, which contains genes that provide instructions for proper cell and tissue growth during fetal development. Folic acid must be present in a woman's body in sufficient amounts at the time of conception to avoid neural tube defects. The neural tube forms the spinal cord and brain. Spina bifida and anencephaly are two common types of neural tube defects, according to MedlinePlus.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida occurs when part of the spinal column remains open. Some types of spina bifida are mild and cause no serious problems. Spina bifida manifesta, the severe form, can result in paralysis, learning problems, difficulty controlling the bowel and bladder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. If a child is born with spina bifida manifesta, the meninges -- the protective covering of the spinal cord and brain -- protrudes through the opening in the spine. In the most severe form of this defect, part of the spinal cord also protrudes from the opening. Doctors treat the more serious forms of spina bifida by performing surgery that pushes the meninges or spinal cord back through the opening and closes the spine.
Anencephaly
Anencephaly is a very serious birth defect that causes incomplete brain development. Anencephaly occurs when the part of the neural tube that forms the brain doesn't close properly. When this happens, a large part of the brain, scalp and skull fails to develop. Babies who have anencephaly are usually born without the cerebrum, the part of the brain that controls thinking and coordination, and the forebrain at the front of the head. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that babies with this defect who are not stillborn will usually die within a few hours or days after birth.
Considerations
Because pregnancies may be unplanned, all women of childbearing age should receive the recommended daily amount of folic acid, according to the March of Dimes. Doctors recommend that women take in 400 mcg of folic acid daily before conceiving and 600 mcg during pregnancy to reduce the chance of a neural tube defect. Although folic acid is found in food, women may not get enough of it through food alone and should consider taking vitamin supplements containing the recommended daily amount of folic acid.
Member Comments