Which nutrient is commonly added to cereals to help prevent neural tube defects?

Folic acid is commonly added to cereals and other foods as a means to prevent neural tube defects, which are serious congenital disabilities that affect the brain and spinal cord. This B-vitamin is crucial for DNA synthesis and repair, as well as for the proper development of the neural tube in a fetus during the early stages of pregnancy. Adequate folic acid intake before conception and during the early weeks of gestation significantly reduces the risk of these defects.

The fortification of cereals with folic acid is a public health strategy aimed at ensuring that women of childbearing age have sufficient levels of this nutrient, even if they are not actively trying to conceive. This initiative has proven effective in decreasing the incidence of neural tube defects in populations where fortification is implemented, illustrating the importance of folic acid in maternal and child health.