Which vitamin deficiency is most commonly linked to neural tube defects in pregnant women in the U.S.?

Folic acid deficiency is most commonly linked to neural tube defects in pregnant women. During early pregnancy, adequate folic acid is crucial for the proper development of the neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord. If there is insufficient folic acid, the neural tube may not close completely, leading to conditions such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

Health authorities recommend that women of childbearing age take folic acid supplements to reduce the risk of these defects. It is established that increased folate intake before conception and during early pregnancy significantly lowers the incidence of neural tube defects, which highlights the importance of this vitamin in prenatal health. This recommendation is particularly emphasized in the context of the U.S. population, where these defects have been associated with low dietary folate levels prior to and during early stages of pregnancy.