Folic Acid Awareness among BYU Females

Authors

Natasha Bushnell, Brigham Young University
Mariana Chiriac, Brigham Young University
Nora Nyland, Brigham Young University

Keywords

folic acid awareness, BYU females, FDA, embrionic development, pregnancy

College

Life Sciences

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science

Abstract

One of the B vitamins, folic acid is involved in DNA synthesis in the human body. This nutrient becomes crucial during the embrionic development of the fetus during a pregnancy. A maternal deficiency of folic acid, added to a genetic predisposition, has been linked to the development of neural tube defects in the fetus (e.g. spina bifida and anencephaly). These conditions re results of an incomplete development of the central nervous system, causing 2500 to 3000 infants in the US to be physically and mentally impaired every year.

Recommended Citation

Bushnell, Natasha; Chiriac, Mariana; and Nyland, Nora (2014) "Folic Acid Awareness among BYU Females," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 861.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/861