Question

The nurse is providing nutrition counseling for a patient planning pregnancy. The nurse should emphasize the importance of consuming which nutrient to prevent neural tube defects?

1) Folic acid
2) Calcium
3) Protein
4) Vitamin D

Answer 1

The nurse should emphasize the importance of consuming 1) folic acid to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly in a patient planning pregnancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nutrient a nurse should emphasize for a patient planning pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects is folic acid (vitamin B9). Folic acid is essential for the healthy development of the neural tube during the early stages of pregnancy. A deficiency can lead to severe birth defects such as spina bifida, where the spinal tissue protrudes through an unfinished vertebral column, or anencephaly, which is the absence of major portions of the brain, skull, or scalp. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that all women who might become pregnant consume at least 400 µg/day of folate from supplements or fortified foods to reduce the risk of these developmental issues.