Why is folic acid supplementation recommended for women planning pregnancy?

Folic acid supplementation is recommended for women planning pregnancy primarily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as anencephaly and spina bifida, that can occur during the early stages of fetal development. Anencephaly is a severe congenital condition characterized by the absence of a major part of the brain and skull, leading to significant health complications and typically resulting in stillbirth or neonatal death.

Research has shown that adequate folic acid intake before conception and during early pregnancy can significantly lower the incidence of these neural tube defects. The critical role of folic acid in DNA synthesis and cellular division underscores its importance in the early development of the fetus, particularly in the formation of the neural tube.

Other congenital conditions, such as heart defects or kidney defects, are not directly linked to folic acid deficiency in the same way neural tube defects are, hence the focus on folic acid as a preventive measure for specific outcomes related to neural development.