González M J, Schmitz K J, Matos M I, López D, Rodríguez J R, Gorrín J J
University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, Nutrition Program, San Juan 00936-5067.
P R Health Sci J. 1997 Dec;16(4):387-93.
Folate deficiency is one of today's most common vitamin deficiencies in women. Women who consume a low level of folate during pregnancy are at risk for poor pregnancy outcomes including neural tube defects (NTD). However, other factors such as heredity, social class, maternal age, birth order, maternal diet, length of time between pregnancies, maternal zinc deficiency, use of anticonvulsant drugs, abnormal homocysteine metabolism and the use of oral contraceptives, have also been implicated as causes of NTD. Animal studies have shown that fetuses are highly dependent on the folate status of the mother. In addition, several retrospective and prospective human studies have provided evidence that folate lowers the incidence of NTD.
叶酸缺乏是当今女性中最常见的维生素缺乏症之一。孕期叶酸摄入量低的女性有出现不良妊娠结局的风险，包括神经管缺陷（NTD）。然而，其他因素如遗传、社会阶层、母亲年龄、出生顺序、母亲饮食、两次怀孕间隔时间、母亲锌缺乏、抗惊厥药物的使用、同型半胱氨酸代谢异常以及口服避孕药的使用，也被认为是神经管缺陷的病因。动物研究表明，胎儿高度依赖母亲的叶酸状态。此外，多项回顾性和前瞻性人体研究已提供证据表明，叶酸可降低神经管缺陷的发生率。
