Vitamin B12 Deficiency Increase Risk of Neural Tube Defects

Filed in archive Medical Issues , Pregnancy and Nutrition on March 2, 2009

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It appears that folic acid is not the only crucial nutrient in a pregnant woman's diet that can influence the risks of her baby developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida. A new study indicates that children born to women who have low blood levels of vitamin B12 shortly before and after conception may have an increased risk of a neural tube defect. Vegans/vegetarians and those who suffer from intestinal disorders that prevent them from absorbing sufficient amounts of the vitamin are at risk of Vitamin B12 deficiency.

The researchers suggested that women should have Vitamin B12 levels above 300 ng/L before becoming pregnant, as critical events in brain and neural tube formation occur within the first weeks, before women even realize that they're pregnant.

Vitamin B12 is available in milk, Meats, poultry, eggs, as well as fortified cereals and some other fortified foods.