Mediation of folate transport across the placenta

Folate (B9) is an essential molecule for the development and maturation of cells. During gestation, it is extremely important to the growth and development of the nervous system. Systemic deficiencies of B9 during pregnancy cause neural tube defects (NTD) ranging from spina bifida to anencephaly. However, over supplementation of folate has been linked with the progression of cancer and therefore is not a viable means for some patients. If inhibition of the transporter is caused by autoantibodies, supplementation with omega-3 may reduce inflammation and thereby increase folate transport without supplementation of folate. An epidemiological study should be performed to test this hypothesis. A program was created that joins the National Birth Defect Prevention Study (NBDPS) database to the USDA database to analyze the correlation between individual intake of omega-3s and omega-6s and birth outcome. The program exclusively uses NBDPS data and allows better access to the outdated database.