"Neural tube defects develop very early in pregnancy - often before someone even knows they're pregnant. The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, is supposed to close within the first few weeks. Without enough folic acid, a B vitamin, that process can fail."
"Folic acid is really important in DNA synthesis and cell division. It's really important to have that vitamin right at the beginning of pregnancy, when there's tissue formation."
"Research has linked spina bifida and other neural tube defects - serious conditions affecting the brain and spine - to women with low levels of folic acid during their pregnancy."
California has mandated the addition of folic acid to corn masa flour, a staple in many Latino households, to address public health disparities. Research links low folic acid levels during pregnancy to neural tube defects, which can occur early in pregnancy. Folic acid is crucial for DNA synthesis and cell division, particularly during the initial stages of pregnancy. The federal requirement for folic acid in enriched grains has previously reduced neural tube defects in the U.S., prompting this new state-level initiative to further protect maternal and infant health.
Read at Kqed
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