Which statement is NOT listed as a risk factor for spina bifida?

• A. Regular exercise
• B. Low folic acid
• C. Valproic acid exposure
• D. Maternal hyperthermia

Answer: (A)

Regular exercise is not a risk factor for spina bifida. In fact, staying active during pregnancy is generally beneficial unless there are medical reasons to limit activity. The factors that do increase risk include low folic acid intake, which is well known to raise the chance of neural tube defects; exposure to certain medications like valproic acid that can be teratogenic; and maternal hyperthermia (fever) in early pregnancy, which can interfere with neural tube closure. Since spina bifida arises from imperfect neural tube formation very early in gestation, these findings are consistently associated with higher risk, making regular exercise the statement that does not fit as a risk factor.