A 28-year-old woman planning pregnancy asks which vitamin form should be emphasized to reduce neural tube defect risk, and what is the difference between the dietary and supplemental forms?

• A. Biotin (B7) is superior to folate because it is more bioavailable and is the only B vitamin that prevents neural tube defects when taken in the first trimester.
• B. Folate (naturally occurring in foods) and folic acid (synthetic form in supplements); folic acid is the supplemental form used to reduce neural tube defect risk during pregnancy.
• C. Cobalamin (B12) is the most critical preconception supplement because the natural form in foods prevents neural tube defects more effectively than any synthetic form.
• D. Pantothenic acid (B5) should be emphasized because its coenzyme A derivatives are necessary for fetal neural tube closure and are the preferred supplemental form.

Answer: (B)