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Folic Acid And Neural Tube Defects, Rachel Leah Feinstein

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is an excerpt of this article: Neural tube defects (NTD) are the most common types of birth defects. Research shows that folic acid taken periconceptionally greatly reduces the risk of having a NTD affected child. This paper will explain the role that folate plays in the metabolism, specifically in synthesizing methionine. It will bring evidence to show that methionine is crucial for normal neural tube development. In addition, it will explore the genetic factor involved in folate metabolism and possible folate deficiency.