Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have revealed the relationship between folic acid and the enzyme ALDH1L1, crucial for the production of retinoic acid, which is vital for the development of the nervous system in the embryo.
The study reveals that folic acid activates the enzyme ALDH1L1, essential for converting retinaldehyde into retinoic acid, allowing the correct formation of the neural tube during the early stages of embryonic development.
To reach these results, they used a frog embryo model, demonstrating that the deactivation of ALDH1L1 interferes with the ability of folic acid to protect the development of the neural tube, confirming the importance of this biological pathway.
Collaboration with vitamin A
The results suggest that the combination of folic acid and small amounts of vitamin A could enhance effectiveness in preventing neural tube defects, although the risk of excess vitamin A during pregnancy is warned.
The discovery of this mechanism could explain the variability in the effectiveness of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects in different pregnancies, underscoring the need for further studies to explore this pathway in humans.
Folic acid deficiency
Folic acid deficiency during neuronal development can cause neural tube defects and disrupt the normal formation of the brain and spinal cord, especially if it occurs very early in pregnancy. In the long term, it has also been associated with lower brain volume, changes in white matter, alterations in neurogenesis and greater risk of problems in memory, language, motor skills and emotional regulation.
Main mechanisms
Folate is key to DNA synthesis and repair and methylation reactions, processes necessary for neurons to divide, migrate and mature properly. When it is lacking, homocysteine can increase and the proliferation of neuronal precursors, myelination and the formation of brain circuits are altered.
Long-lasting effects observed
In studies in humans and animal models, early deficiency has been linked to delays in sensorimotor development, worse spatial learning and memory, and in some cases persistent cognitive difficulties. Associations have also been described with slower language, behavioral or emotional problems, and greater vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders when the deficiency occurs during pregnancy.
Importance of the moment
The greatest risk appears during the periconceptional period and the first trimester, when the neural tube closes and much of the fetal nervous system is organized. Therefore, a deficiency before or at the beginning of pregnancy usually has more serious and sometimes irreversible consequences than a later deficiency.
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