Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals accessible from the diet, are essential for biologic
activity. Micronutrient status varies widely throughout pregnancy and across populations …

Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the vertebral column is open, often with spinal cord
involvement. The most clinically significant subtype is myelomeningocele (open spina …

Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are debilitating birth defects involving the central
nervous system (CNS). Despite recent advances, NTDs represent the second most common …

Periconceptional intake of folic acid is known to reduce a woman's risk of having an infant
affected by a neural tube birth defect (NTD). National programs to mandate fortification of …

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common, severe congenital malformations whose causation
involves multiple genes and environmental factors. Although more than 200 genes are …

Early programming is the adaptation process by which nutrition and environmental factors
alter development pathways during prenatal growth, inducing changes in postnatal …

Maternal exposure to dietary factors during pregnancy can influence embryonic
development and may modulate the phenotype of offspring through epigenetic …

The term folate (vitamin B9) refers to a group of water-soluble compounds that are
nutritionally essential for the support of optimal human health and development. Folates …

Background Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) are among the most prevalent and most severe
congenital malformations worldwide. Polymorphisms in key genes involving the folate …

Neural tube defects (NTDs), including spina bifida and anencephaly, are common birth
defects of the central nervous system. The complex multigenic causation of human NTDs …