Nutrition and Vitamin Deficiencies · USMLE Step 1

Deficiency of which vitamin during pregnancy increases risk of neural tube defects in the fetus?

  1. Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
  2. Vitamin B9 (folate)
  3. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  4. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: Vitamin B9 (folate)

Folate (vitamin B9) is essential for nucleic acid synthesis and methylation reactions; maternal folate deficiency impairs DNA synthesis in the developing neural tube, increasing neural tube defect risk.

Difficulty: Medium Question 13 of 21

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