What vitamin is critical for fetal neural tube development?

Folic acid, a B vitamin, is crucial for fetal neural tube development. This vitamin plays a significant role in the formation of the neural tube, which eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord. Adequate folic acid intake before conception and during early pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. The recommended dosage for women of childbearing age is typically 400 to 800 micrograms per day, which underscores its importance in prenatal care.

Other vitamins mentioned, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D, while important for overall health and specific developmental processes, do not specifically target neural tube formation to the same extent that folic acid does. Vitamin A is important for vision and immune function, Vitamin C supports tissue repair and is an antioxidant, and Vitamin D is essential for bone health and immune function. However, none of these have the same direct impact on neural tube closure as folic acid does.