title: [Neural tube defects and folic acid: a historical overview of a highly successful preventive intervention].
abstract: This article gives a broad overview of part of the historical evolution of medical knowledge about neural tube defects (NTD) and the discovery of vitamin B9 or folic acid, as well as some relevant research events that, over the course of several centuries, defined the relationships between the understanding of central nervous system embryology, the discovery of the vitamin, the correlation between folic acid and cell proliferation and lastly the development of preventive measures for this type of defects. This narrative allows us to examine historically relevant concepts underlying clinical actions with a populational impact that prevent NTDs via folic acid consumption prior to conception.
authors: Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, aordonez@javeriana.edu.co.
authors: Adriana Ordoñez
authors: AO
authors: Vásquez
authors: Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, fernando.suarez@javeriana.edu.co.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Suarez-Obando
mesh_terms: D005492:Folic Acid / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid