Pregnancy: Prevention of neural tube defects

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are major congenital malformations of the central nervous system occurring when the neural tube fails to close properly in the developing fetus, resulting in death or lifelong disability. The finding that folic acid can prevent NTDs ranks as one of the most important discoveries in birth defects research, and indeed in human nutrition. This article will review the nutrition and genetic factors in the etiology of NTDs and summarize the mechanisms underlying the link between folate and NTD. Policy for preventing NTD will be discussed, including mandatory food fortification programs aimed at reducing the population prevalence of NTDs.