The tube of tissue that lies along the central axis of the early embryo. It gives rise to the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the central nervous system.

	Folic Acid As A Treatment "...Folic acid is critical for neural tube formation during the first weeks of fetal development and is vital in the diet of pregnant women..." Increased Folic Acid Requirement The Condition "...Folic acid aids in the prevention of birth defects called neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly..." Multiple Vitamin Need The Condition "...status? Treatment & Prevention Select populations will benefit from specific supplementation as in the following examples ... Folate supplementation with early pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube defects in newborns..." NTD Related Topic "Neural Tube Defects, also known as Spina Bifida..." Pregnancy-Related Issues The Condition "...Folic acid plays a critical role for the developing fetus by preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida, a condition in which parts of the spinal cord are unprotected by vertebrae, and anencephaly, a fatal defect in which both the skull and most of the brain are..." Relationship to Manganese Requirement "There is a risk of fetal malformations, including increases in neural tube defects, without an adequate amount of manganese..." Recommendation Folic Acid "...It has been estimated that if all women of childbearing age met this allowance, the number of neural tube defect cases in the United States could decrease by at least 50%..."

Last updated: May 10, 2007