Which vitamin is essential to prevent neural tube defects?

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is essential for the prevention of neural tube defects during fetal development. Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, occur when the neural tube fails to close completely during the early stages of pregnancy, typically within the first 28 days after conception. Folic acid plays a critical role in DNA synthesis and cell division, making it vital for proper fetal growth and development, especially in the formation of the neural tube.

Supplementation of folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of these congenital anomalies. Health authorities commonly recommend that women of childbearing age take a daily supplement of folic acid to ensure adequate levels are available at the time of conception, as many pregnancies are unplanned and the earliest stages of development often occur before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

Other vitamins, such as A, C, and D, though important for overall health, do not have a direct link to the prevention of neural tube defects in the same way that folic acid does. They support various physiological functions, but folic acid is specifically acknowledged for its protective role during the critical period of neural tube formation.