Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

There is strong scientific validation for the use of specific B vitamins, particularly folic acid (vitamin B9), in the prevention of certain birth defects. Multiple large-scale, high-quality studies have demonstrated that adequate maternal intake of folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly in newborns. These neural tube defects occur very early in fetal development, often before a woman knows she is pregnant, which is why folic acid supplementation is recommended for all women of childbearing age.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and numerous other health authorities worldwide recommend that women who are planning to become pregnant take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. This recommendation is based on overwhelming evidence from randomized controlled trials and epidemiological studies. Food fortification with folic acid has also led to a marked decrease in the incidence of NTDs in many countries.

While other B vitamins such as B12 are also important during pregnancy, it is specifically the role of folic acid in DNA synthesis and cell division that underpins its crucial function in fetal neural development. Deficiency in folic acid is a well-established risk factor for birth defects. Thus, the use of vitamin B (mainly folic acid) for birth defect prevention is firmly grounded in science, with a high level of evidence supporting its efficacy.

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