Tag: Purine synthesis

An estimated 25 to 75% reduction in neural tube defects was observed after mandatory folic acid fortification of the food supply in some countries. This vital nutrient, a B vitamin, is crucial for numerous physiological processes, including the synthesis of purines, a foundational component of DNA and RNA.

Purine nucleotides, the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA, cannot be synthesized by the human body without adequate support from specific micronutrients. It is vitamin B9, commonly known as folate or folic acid, that is directly associated with purine synthesis. This critical nutrient plays a central role in one-carbon metabolism, providing the necessary chemical groups for the construction of the purine ring.