Final answer:
Folate is an important B vitamin for the healthy development of the neural tube. Deficiency during pregnancy can lead to birth defects such as spina bifida. Daily folate supplementation can help treat folate deficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Folate is one of the B vitamins that is important for the healthy development of the neural tube. A deficiency of maternal folate in the first weeks of pregnancy can lead to birth defects such as spina bifida, where spinal tissue protrudes through the newborn's vertebral column. Anencephaly, which is a partial or complete absence of brain tissue, is a more severe neural tube defect. Daily folate supplementation can help treat folate deficiency