Understanding Effects of Folic Acid on the Methylosome and Transcriptome of Women With Spina Bifida Affected Pregnancies

Folic acid is currently considered to be the standard of care for primary and secondary prevention of spina bifida, but the mechanisms underlying folic acid's benefits are unknown. One hypothesis is that folic acid changes DNA methylation and transcription of genes important in neural tube closure. In this study, the investigators will evaluate how DNA methylation of genes associated with neural tube closure changes after a short course of standard-of-care folic acid supplementation. In addition, the investigators will assess whether environmental arsenic exposure modifies the effects of folic acid on the methylosome.