Neural Tube Defects And Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is an important receptor for folic acid absorption. Studies have proven a deficiency in vitamin B12 will directly contribute to the increased risk of neural tube defects. More importantly, it has not been proven that a deficiency in folic acid alone is responsible for causing neural tube defects. 

Neural Tube Defects: Other Possible Causes

Not only has folate deficiency been linked to neural tube defects, but there are also many other potential causes. The following things could lead to an increased risk of the development of neural tube defects:

• Mycotoxins
• Maternal obesity
• Maternal diabetes
• Arsenic
• Hyperthermia early in fetal development
• Radiation
• Maternal smoking
• Maternal exposure to secondhand smoke

Neural Tube Defects: Diagnosis

Testing for neural tube defects can include ultrasound examination and an amniocentesis to check maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. Amniotic fluid and amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase testing is used to confirm neural tube defects, in the event other testing indicates a positive finding. Often, neural tube defects appear at birth, but sometimes occult defects might not show up until later in life. An elevated level of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein between the 16^th and 18^th week of pregnancy is a very good indicator of neural tube defects in a fetus.

Neural Tube Defects: Prevention Methods

Beginning in 1996, United States Food and Drug Administration published a set of regulations that required additional folic acid enrichment in breads, flour, cereals and other grains. The link between neural tube defects and folic acid deficiency is well-established. Because most women do not know they are pregnant in the first few weeks after conception, it is very important for those trying to conceive to consume a diet rich in folic acid and to possibly take a supplement containing folic acid, if the diet is not providing enough.

Prognosis

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 3% of all infants born in the United States will have a neural tube defect.

Anencephaly is observed about 1 in 4,859 births, with an annual 859 cases being diagnosed. Spina bifida without anencephaly accounts for 1 in every 2,858 births and there are 1,460 new cases each year.

Folic acid helps to prevent neural tube defects. If you are a woman trying to conceive or are of child-bearing age, it is important for you to receive 400 mcg of folic acid each day, in order to protect any potential fetus from developing a neural tube defect.

See Also: Spina Bifida-Treatment and Prognosis

Doctors and medical researchers are not completely sure how or why folic acid has such a positive impact on the prevention of neural tube defects, but do know the vitamin is crucial to DNA development. More research is needed to better understand how neural tube defects are caused and how they can be prevented entirely.