PREVENTION OF NEURAL-TUBE DEFECTS - VITAMINS, ENZYMES AND GENES

Neural tube defects can be prevented by folic acid, although the mecha nism of this action is unclear. Studies of a series of folate-related enzymes have so far failed to pin-point the nature of the metabolic de fect in the neurulation-stage embryo that is corrected by folic acid. Approximately 30% of neural tube defects appear resistant to folic aci d and recent work in a mouse genetic model system suggests that admini stration of myo-inositol may be a complementary therapeutic option. Th e large number of mouse genes known to cause neural tube defects provi de a starting point for identifying the genetic basis of the human def ects. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.