What is the primary role of folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic acid plays a crucial role during pregnancy, particularly in supporting the development of the neural tube, which ultimately becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord. Adequate folic acid intake is vital in the early stages of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant, as the neural tube forms in the first few weeks after conception. This is why healthcare professionals recommend folic acid supplementation as part of prenatal care; it significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

While other options address important aspects of prenatal health, such as preventing anemia or aiding in calcium retention, they do not directly relate to the critical function that folic acid fulfills in neural tube development. Thus, the emphasis on folic acid's role in ensuring healthy neural development underlines its importance during pregnancy.