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A member asked:
Why is folate (folic acid) is essential to the embryo or fetus?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Folic acid: Folic acid is a co-factor needed for cellular division. Lack of Folic Acid impairs normal cellular division which occurs during embryonic and fetal development. Less Folic Acid = fewer cells. Taking Folic Acid before pregnancy decreases the risk of having a fetus with either a neural tube defect or a cardiac defects.
Answered 6/25/2014
5.8k views
Folic acid embryo: Folic acid is important to take prior to conception and during early pregnancy. It will reduce the risk neural tube defects. The neural tube involves the brain and spinal cord.
Answered 6/25/2014
5.7k views
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