A protective effect of folate against the development of neural tube defects (NTDs), specifically, spina bifida, is now well recognized, having been established by a lot of clinical research studies over the past half-century. Effective measures for the primary prevention of spina bifida include: Not drinking alcohol, not smoking, not taking drugs, taking Folic Acid and taking oral daily folate for all pregnant women. Neural tube closure is completed 28 days (four weeks) from conception, and the preventive effect of folic acid is not effective after that period. So, folate supplementation should start at least 4 weeks before conception and it should continue until at least two months after conception. The recommended intakes of folate are 4 mg/d for those at high-risk pregnancies(by virtue of a previous NTD pregnancy outcome) and 0.4 mg/d for all others.
Spina bifida primary prevention
Spina bifida medical therapy
Down syndrome secondary prevention
Umbilical hernia secondary prevention
Renal agenesis medical therapy
Cerebral palsy primary prevention
Hydrocephalus primary prevention
Spina bifida surgery