Neural tube defects are birth defects that start in the womb during the formation in a developing fetus of the neural tube, which eventually becomes the brain, spinal cord and associated bone and tissue. High levels of vitamin B6 are not associated with increased or diminished risks for neural tube defects; however, low levels of another B vitamin, called folate or folic acid, can lead to the onset of neural tube problems.
Understanding Neural Tube Defects
The neural tube develops in the first three or four weeks of pregnancy when certain cells in the fetus curl up and fuse together at their edges. Because formation of the tube happens so early, many women do not yet know they are pregnant when it occurs, according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry’s website Lab Tests Online. Neural tube defects occur when a section of the developing tube does not close fully or properly. Potential consequences of these defects include the improper closure of the spinal column, associated with the condition called spina bifida, and incomplete brain formation, associated with the condition called anencephaly.
Folate and Folic Acid
All people need folate to produce healthy cells. In developing fetuses, cell production is particularly pronounced, and a mother’s adequate intake of the vitamin before and during pregnancy promotes proper fetal cell formation and helps prevent neural tube defects, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. Common foods with beneficial folate content include legumes, leafy green vegetables, citrus juices and asparagus. To lower the risk of folate deficiencies that might result in birth defects, a number of common foods in the United States are fortified with folic acid, a manmade form of folate. Such fortified foods include white rice, pasta, breakfast cereal, cornmeal, flour and bread.
High Vitamin B6 Levels
Vitamin B6 supports a number of basic biochemical activities inside your body, including formation of the protein that carries oxygen in the bloodstream and a number of other proteins, proper control of blood glucose levels and normal function of the nervous and immune systems. If your intake of vitamin B6 is higher than 100 mg a day, you can potentially develop a reversible form of nerve damage in your legs and arms. Typically, this damage stems from overuse of B6 supplements, not from the B6 found in foods such as fish, beef, poultry, spinach, garbanzo beans and avocados.
Recommendations
The Office on Women’s Health recommends that all women of childbearing age get 400 to 800 mcg of supplemental folic acid every day. This level of intake provides protection against neural tube defects for women planning a pregnancy, as well as for women who get pregnant unexpectedly and might otherwise be at risk for a folate deficiency. While you can get folate from your diet, intake from food sources may not be sufficient to lower the risk of a neural tube defect. Consumption of folic acid in amounts higher than 1,000 mcg per day can mask the presence of a vitamin B12 deficiency, so keep your intake below this level. Consult your doctor for more information on neural tube defects, the different forms of vitamin B6 in your diet and whether or not there is a need for supplementation.
