Aré Neural Tube Defects common? How do you prevent Neural Tube Defects? - Dr Tanushri Mukherjee

Neural tube defect are quite common. Previously it was almost 5 to 6 % per thousand live births. The overall prevalence of neural tube defect is around 1 to 2 per thousand live births but in India it is 4 to 5 per thousand live births. For prevention of neural tube defect, the magic drug is folic acid. Before folic acid was there, the incidence of neural tube defects was very high, it started in the 1990’s and after that the incidence of neural tube defect has drastically came down. So for folci acid it is ideal that any lady who is in the reproductive age group, they should take folic acid enriched diet. In the diet she can either take the folic acid enriched breakfast cereals, or if available in the bread, pasta, regular food items, or she can take folic acid rich foods like orange juice and green leafy vegetables. If you are not comfortable to take that, then you have to take some tablets, if your gynecologist will prescribe you the folic acid capsules. If it is a planned pregnancy, you should start taking folic acid tablets when you are planning. Ideally it should be 1 month before your conception and you should continue folic acid till the first trimester. So the research has shown that if you have taken folic acid one month prior to conception, and it continues to first trimester then the chances of neural tube defect can reduce upto 50 to 70%.

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