title: Neural tube defects and maternal intake of micronutrients related to one-carbon metabolism or antioxidant activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal nutritional status has been evaluated to clarify its role in development of neural tube defects (NTDs). Maternal folate intake during pregnancy has been closely evaluated for its association with NTDs. The study objective was to examine associations between NTDs and other dietary periconceptional micronutrient intake, particularly nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism or antioxidant activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2005, logistic regression models were used to estimate the relative risk of NTDs based on maternal micronutrient intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results were stratified according to folic acid supplement use, race/ethnicity, and maternal body mass index. Analyses included 954 cases (300 with anencephaly, 654 with spina bifida) and 6268 controls. Higher intakes of folate, thiamin, betaine, iron, and vitamin A were associated with decreased risk of anencephaly among some ethnic and clinical groups. In some groups, higher intakes of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B(6) , vitamin C, vitamin E, niacin, and retinol were associated with decreased risk of spina bifida.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to folic acid, other micronutrients, including thiamin, betaine, riboflavin, vitamin B(6) , vitamin C, vitamin E, niacin, iron, retinol, and vitamin A, may decrease the risk of NTD occurrence. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: Charlotte A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: Bridget S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Canfield
authors.forename: Yan Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Siega-Riz
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins; D002244:Carbon; D005492:Folic Acid