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Spina Bifida and Anencephaly (Neural Tube Defects)
Spina Bifida and Anencephaly
(Neural Tube Defects)
What are spina bifida and anencephaly?
Spina bifida and anencephaly are neural tube defects (NTDs), which are common birth defects that affect thousands of babies each year in the United States. The neural tube is an early stage of the developing nervous system in the embryo.
How does spina bifida occur?
Spina bifida results from the failure of the spinal column to close, usually near the bottom of the spinal cord.
What problems does spina bifida cause?
Persons with spina bifida usually have serious disabilities. Legs and feet are often paralyzed, and there are problems with bowel and bladder control. Learning disabilities are common and mental retardation sometimes occurs.
How does anencephaly occur?
Anencephaly is marked by the incomplete development of the skull bones. The brain is partially (or completely) absent.
What problems does anencephaly cause?
Anencephaly is a medical disaster. Infants with this condition die either before birth or very shortly thereafter.
Who is at risk of having a baby with a NTD (spina bifida or anencephaly)?
Any woman can have a NTD pregnancy.
About 95% of NTD pregnancies occur to women with no prior history of a NTD pregnancy.
However, a woman who has already had an NTD pregnancy is 20 times more likely to have a subsequent affected pregnancy.
How many pregnancies are affected by these birth defects?
Almost 4,000 pregnancies a year in the U.S. involve a NTD. In other words, there are 11 NTD pregnancies a day in this country.
About 1 of every 1,000 infants born in the United States has spina bifida or anencephaly.
Can these birth defects be prevented?
Whether these birth defects can be entirely prevented has not been proven. However, it is clear that adequate amounts of folic acid in the mother's diet helps prevent and cuts the risk of NTDs.
How can women get enough folic acid? - Taking a daily dietary supplement (a multivitamin or other pill containing folic acid), is an easy and effective way to be sure the diet contains sufficient folic acid.
- Eating enriched flour and cereal-grain products is also helpful. The FDA has ruled that, effective in 1998, products made with "enriched" flour or grain products such as bread, rice and pasta must contain additional folic acid in the same way that they contain additional iron, niacin and other vitamins. Fortification of cereal- grain products makes it easier for a woman to increase her folic acid intake through her diet. However, even with eating fortified foods and a folate-rich diet, many women will not consume enough folic acid to prevent these birth defects. Taking a folic-acid containing supplement is the most effective way of ensuring a woman has an adequate intake of folic acid.
- Eating foods naturally rich in folates, such as dark green leafy vegetables, orange juice, dried peas, beans, and lentils is also helpful. To assist people in making better choices to meet their needs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of health claims on products which contain significant amounts of folate.
This article is based in part upon information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) - the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) - the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (DBDDD). - Spina bifida and anencephaly are major birth defects.
- Spina bifida and anencephaly are, more specifically, neural tube defects. (NTDs)
- NTDs are quite common.
- Folic acid helps prevent NTDs.
- The best ways to get enough folic acid are set forth below.
Last updated on 07/03/2008
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