I am stretching a bit but it is important for all circuit conductors to be in close proximity to each other for the lowest ground fault impedance. there are rules which required the bonding wires and neutrals to be in the same cable or raceway as the ungrounded wire. This is to deal with the magnetic field that is around a wire. In a fault the field strength increases and so does the opposition to current flow (impedance) by placing the neutral with the hot the two are inside the same field and allow current to pass quickly or with less impedance than if the neutral and hot follow a divergent path. So I believe it could be a problem in a fault.
