What is the recommended preventive measure for neural tube defects during pregnancy?

The recommended preventive measure for neural tube defects during pregnancy is prenatal folic acid supplementation. Folic acid is a B vitamin that plays a crucial role in the proper development of the fetal neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord. Adequate intake of folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

Public health guidelines advocate for women of childbearing age to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, starting before conception and continuing through the first trimester. This is particularly important as many pregnancies are unplanned, and the neural tube develops in the first few weeks after conception, often before a woman even realizes she is pregnant.

While calcium, vitamin D, and iron are essential nutrients during pregnancy for overall maternal and fetal health, they do not specifically target the prevention of neural tube defects in the same way that folic acid does. Therefore, prenatal folic acid is the appropriate answer in this context.