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Oh, THAT spinal bifida!  I have a tiny one that's closed.  It was pointed
out to me by a neurologist, so I know it's an s.b.
 
I have wondered about the same connection.  Last summer I talked to a
former teacher of mine.  She's of Italian extract, & has battled fatigue
and anemia all her life.  She has a niece with spinal bifida & a nephew
with schizophrenia.  Maybe it's one of those "unbelievable coincidences",
but I think you are smart to pick up on the possibility on malabsorption
and low levels of folic acid.
 
Bec
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On Tue, 5 Sep 1995, Walter & Susan Owens wrote:
 
> ...possible connection between celiac and spina bifida.  But here's
> my story.
>
> Grace started preschool today, and her teacher is a grandmother of one of
> Grace's good friends.  That little friend has a baby sister with spina
> bifida which I understand has been linked with low maternal folic acid
<...>
> It was clear to me that she was saying her daughter had not been restricting
> her diet since her symptoms went away in high school.  I thought about how I
> read in the faq about celiac being related to low folic acid, and I suddenly
> got very very sad that maybe this little child with spina bifida had a
> life-long terrible disease because perhaps this young woman's doctor had
> made light of celiac.
>
> Several things occurred to me.
>
> 1.  Her doctor in high school thought celiac was only as serious as the
> symptoms it caused.
>
> 2.  Her gynecologist either didn't know about the celiac, or did not think
> her celiac could effect her child.
>
> 3.  Even after having a child with spina bifida, no one talked to her about
> the possibility that she might still have celiac.
<...>
> But I haven't figured out if I should just stay mum, or if I should say
> something else.  Her daughter is still in her twenties and could have
> another child.