What are the consequences of a folic acid deficiency during pregnancy?
During pregnancy there is a higher requirement for folic acid, as folic acid is necessary for the development of the child. It is particularly important to ensure a sufficient folic acid intake at the beginning of pregnancy. This is where the neural tube, from which the brain and spinal cord later develop, develops.
A folic acid deficiency increases the risk of malformations of the neural tube. These manifest themselves in malformations of the lower back, the so-called spina bifida, which can be of varying degrees of severity. In mild malformations, only the vertebral body is incompletely formed.
In severe cases, paralysis of the legs may occur. Malformations of the brain occur less frequently. In severe cases the child is not viable.
