Vitamin B12 — found in poultry, meat, fish and dairy products — helps the body produce and maintain healthy nerve cells. It is also used to make red blood cells and DNA.
A new study from Fudan University in China found that its levels in both men and women before conception are associated with a lower risk of birth defects. Authors of the study argue that these findings highlight the importance of both paternal and maternal nutrition before conception and during early pregnancy.
