Folate, Homocysteine, and Neural Tube Defects

Abstract

Neural tube defects (NTD) are one of the most disabling congenital defects in the human. NTD applies to malformation of the brain and/or spinal cord. The process of the formation of the nervous system is called neurulation. During neurulation, the flat neural plate transforms into a cylindrical neural tube with canalization and rostral and caudal closure. When the closure does not occur at the rostral end, the brain does not develop. This defect is clinically recognized as anencephaly.