Incredibly, the human embryonic brain and central nervous system begin developing during the first three weeks after conception, just about the time a woman has missed her monthly period. At this early stage, the embryo doesn’t even look human. An outer layer that will become skin is thickening along the middle line of the body, which consists of two lengthwise folds called the neural tube. Within the next week, the tube will close to encase the brain and spinal cord. Already a rudimentary brain is a swelling at one end of the fold. Nerves for the brain stem and are beginning to develop. At four weeks gestational, the head is barely perceptible and surrounds the brain. A large, gaping mouth opening is clearly visible. Immediately below the head, the embryonic heart has begun to form and to beat.¹

 

The early development of the embryonic brain, nervous system and heart clearly indicate the need for pre-conceptual nutrition, since most women won’t even know they are pregnant until important developmental milestones have passed. What are these critical nutrients?

 

Folic Acid

 

The role of folic acid in early embryonic development has been recognized for many years.² Folic acid is required for the neural tube to close between gestational weeks three and four. If sufficient folic acid is not available from the mother, the neural tube does not close properly, causing the life threatening conditions spina bifida and anencephaly, two types of neural tube defects.³ Pre-natal vitamins always contain high levels of folic acid, but by the time a woman has missed a period or is told to take them, it may be too late.

 

Folic acid deficiency is common in most women of child bearing age. According to Nancy S. Green, M.D., associate medical director of the March of Dimes, “about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended.”⁴ Scientists have long campaigned for widespread intake of folic acid to prevent crippling conditions of the brain and spinal cord. And in 1996, the Food and Drug Administration mandated that all enriched cereal grain products be fortified with folic acid to help avoid neural tube defects.^5,6

 

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that women who are able to become pregnant consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily as part of a healthy diet to decrease the risk of birth defects. Getting sufficient folic acid from the diet may not be enough, however. Robert Cephalo. M.D., Ph.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, believes that diet and food fortification would not give enough folic acid unless a woman takes folic acid as a supplement, either alone or in a multivitamin.⁷

 

The bioavailability of food folates lags behind that of supplements at only 80 percent.⁸  Yet March of Dimes researchers report that only one in ten women of childbearing age know that taking folic acid is important.⁹  The American Dietetic Association reported that 80 percent of low-income women did not take supplements pre-conceptionally.¹⁰

 

NOW offers EVE, a woman’s multiple, Pre-Natal capsules, and Folic Acid with vitamin B-12.  All of these supplements contain 800 micrograms of folic acid, along with vitamin B-12 that is needed for neural development. Folic acid has also been found to be a factor in gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and may reduce the risk of having a baby with Down’s syndrome.

 

Fatty Acids

 

There are two families of essential fatty acids known as omega-6 and omega-3. Both of these fatty acids are required for embryonic brain, eye, and nerve development.¹¹ While diet supplies sufficient omega-6, omega-3 DHA is often in short supply. DHA is found in unusually high concentrations in the brain and is selectively accumulated during fetal and infant brain growth.¹² Reduced concentrations of DHA in the brain can lead to decreased visual and psychomotor development.¹³ Pregnant women are best advised to choose foods rich in oils, such as whole grains, legumes, and vegetables with the intent of keeping a healthy balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.¹⁴  

 

Eating fish may be problematic especially during the early stages of pregnancy, in part because of nausea and taste preference. Concern over mercury contamination has led researchers to suggest that pregnant women not eat fish more than twice a week and would be best advised to obtain additional DHA from supplements.¹⁵

 

NOW offers two DHA products: DHA 250 mg capsules and DHA Omega Supreme liquid. The liquid is a balance of fatty acids including linolenic acid from flaxseed oil. 

 

Marcia Zimmerman is the author of the best selling book The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30-Day Plan. Henry Holt & Company, New York, 1999.

References:

 

1  Nilsson Lennert “A Child is Born” New York, Dell Publishing, 1993. pp. 75-93

 

2  “Neural Tube Defect Surveillance and Folic Acid Intervention – Texas-Mexico Border, 1993-1998 Centers for Disease Control, Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2000;49:1-4

 

3  “Folate Status in Women of Childbearing Age – United States, 1999” Centers for Disease Control 2000; 49:962-965

 

4  Zamora, D.; “Folic Acid Deficiency Common in Most Women of Childbearing Age” Medscape News September 7, 2001

 

5  “Folic Acid Appears to Reduce the Risk of Recurrent Neural Tube Defects Reuters Medical News Jan. 14, 2000

 

6  “Food Fortification Has Nearly Tripled Folate Levels in Women of Childbearing Age” Reuters Medical News October 27, 2000

 

7  Zamora, Op. Cit.

 

8  Winkels, RM; et al; “Bioavailability of Food Folates is 80% of That of Folic Acid” Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:465-73

 

9  “Too Few Women of Childbearing Age Take Folic Acid Supplements” Reuters Medical News June 9, 2000

 

10  Kloeblen, A.G.; “Folate Knowledge, Intake from Fortified Grain Products, and Periconceptional Supplementation Patterns of a Sample of Low-Income Pregnant Women According to the Health Belief Model” 1999;99(1)

 

11  Connor, W.E.; et al;  “Essentail Fatty Acids: The Importance of the n-3 Fatty Acids in the Retina and Brain” Nutr. Rev. 1992;50:21-29

 

12  Innis, S.M.; “The Role of Dietary n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in the developing Brain” Dev Neurosci 2000;22:474-80

 

13  Innis, S.M.; “Dietary )n-3) Fatty Acids and Brain Development” J Nutr. 2007;137:855-9

 

14  Innis, S.M.’ Elias, S.L.; “Intakes of Essential n-6 and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Among Pregnant Canadian Women” Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:473-8