title: Maternal intake of folic acid and neural crest stem cells.
abstract: Maternal folic acid (FA) intake has beneficial effects in preventing neural tube defects and may also play a role in the prevention of adult onset diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebral ischemia. This review will focus on the effects of maternal FA intake on neural crest stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Although FA is generally considered beneficial, it has the potential of promoting cell proliferation at the expense of differentiation. In some situations, this may lead to miscarriage or postnatal developmental abnormalities. Therefore, a blind approach such as "FA for everyone" is not necessarily the best course of action. Ultimately, the best approach for FA supplementation, and potentially other nutritional supplements, will include customized patient genomic profiles for determining dose and duration.
authors: Developmental Biology Program, Children's Memorial Research Center, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Memorial Medical Center and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors: Chandra S
authors: CS
authors: Mayanil
authors: Shunsuke
authors: S
authors: Ichi
authors: Barbara-Mania
authors: BM
authors: Farnell
authors: Vanda
authors: V
authors: Boshnjaku
authors: Tadanori
authors: T
authors: Tomita
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: McLone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid