Uncoupling　protein　2(UCP2)　is　an　attractive　candidate　gene　for　screening　neural　tube　defects　(NTDs)　risk.　In　this　study,　polymerase　chain　reaction　and　agarose　gel　electrophoresis　were　used　to　determine　the　distribution　of　the　polymorphism　in　a　case　group　of　140　deliveries　with　NTDs,　and　a　control　group　of　251　normal　newborns.　We　found　that　the　frequencies　of　allele　I　and　genotypes　ID　+　II　were　higher　in　the　case　group　than　in　the　control　group　(P=.167,　OR=1.4,　95%　CI,　0.9-2.1;　P=.132,　OR=1.44,　95%　CI,　0.89-2.33,　respectively);　and　at　low　maternal　educational　level,　the　frequency　of　ID　+　II　genotypes　was　significantly　higher　in　the　NTD　case　group　(P＜.05,　OR=1.7,　95%　CI,　1.01-2.79).　The　result　suggested　that　the　polymorphism　in　UCP2　may　be　a　potential　genetic　risk　factor　for　NTDs　in　a　high-risk　area　of　China,　and　the　association　was　influenced　by　maternal　education.