Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is an important vitamin that every woman should take before pregnancy.
Among the known benefits associated with this supplement are helping in massive cell division and growth, synthesis and repair of DNA and enhancing brain health.
In women, this vitamin is said to play various roles including protecting the fetus against falling victim to various potential birth defects like neural tube defect.
Neural tube defect is a birth defect that afflicts the fetus. It is a defect of the brain and spinal cord. Spina bifida and anencephaly are the two types of neural tube defect.
The former occurs due to incomplete development of the spinal cord whereas the latter occurs when the skull and brain cells don't develop completely.
“Folic acid has a very important role in making those cell reproductions possible and to happen in an efficient manner,” notes Tama Bloch, RDN, a pediatric research scientist with Abbott.
Being obese, diabetic and taking some drugs are risk factors of this disease.
Additionally, lack of enough or absence of folic acid in a woman's body has also been linked to this malady.
There is no cure for this particular disease but it can be diagnosed through imaging techniques during pregnancy.
Getting enough folic acid prevents this malady from occurring and therefore women are advised to take the vitamin to boost their baby's health.