Taking folic acid during pregnancy prevents which of the following?

• A. Gestational diabetes
• B. Neural tube defects
• C. Down syndrome
• D. Preeclampsia

Answer: (B)

Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, which are serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. The neural tube forms and closes very early in pregnancy—often before a woman knows she’s pregnant—so having adequate folate supports DNA synthesis and rapid cell growth needed for proper neural tube closure. That’s why starting folic acid before conception and continuing through the first trimester is advised. The typical recommendation is about 400 micrograms daily for most women, with higher doses (around 4 milligrams) for those with a prior neural tube defect pregnancy or other risk factors. Folic acid does not prevent gestational diabetes, Down syndrome, or preeclampsia, which arise from different causes.