امرأة عمرها ٢٧ سنة تخطط للحمل خلال أشهر، وأختها وُلد طفلها بسنسنة مشقوقة. لا تأخذ أي مكملات حالياً، وصحتها جيدة. تسأل كيف تقلل خطر عيوب الأنبوب العصبي. ما النصيحة؟

A 27-year-old woman plans pregnancy within months; her sister’s baby was born with spina bifida. She takes no supplements and is healthy. She asks how to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. What is the advice?

1. High-dose vitamin A every day throughout pregnancy
2. Daily folic acid from a month before conceiving
3. Avoiding all leafy green vegetables
4. Calcium only after delivery

Answer: B) Daily folic acid from a month before conceiving. Folic acid (usually 400 micrograms daily, higher for high-risk women such as those on antiepileptics or with a previously affected pregnancy) before conception and in early pregnancy markedly reduces neural tube defects.