Neural Tube Defect - Folic Acid Pathway

Folic Acid Pathway

Folic acid (vitamin B₉) and vitamin B₁₂ are very important in reducing the occurrences of NTDs. Folate is required for production and maintenance of new cells, for DNA synthesis and RNA synthesis. Folate is needed to carry one carbon groups for methylation and nucleic acid synthesis. It has been hypothesized that the early human embryo may be particularly vulnerable to folic acid deficiency due to differences of the functional enzymes in this pathway during embryogenesis combined with high demand for post translational methylations of the cytoskeleton in neural cells during neural tube closure. Vitamin B₁₂ is also an important receptor in the folic acid biopathway such that studies have shown deficiency in vitamin B₁₂ contributes to risk of NTDs as well.