Which nutrient is especially important for pregnant women to help prevent neural tube defects?

Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is crucial for pregnant women as it plays a significant role in fetal development, particularly in the formation of the neural tube, which eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord. Adequate folate intake before conception and during early pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

Folate is essential for DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation, processes that are vital for cell division and growth. During pregnancy, the demand for folate increases to support the rapid cell growth of the developing fetus. As such, health organizations recommend that women planning to become pregnant take a folic acid supplement, which is the synthetic form of folate, to ensure they receive enough of this important nutrient.

While other nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamin C also have roles in pregnancy, they do not specifically target the prevention of neural tube defects to the same degree as folate does. Iron is predominantly important for preventing anemia, calcium supports bone development, and vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron, but none of these are directly linked to the prevention of neural tube defects in the same critical way that folate is.