Lori is a vegan who believes she gets all the nutrients she needs from her diet. She has never taken supplements, even when she was pregnant. Her baby, Mason, was born full-term, but with a small portion of his spinal cord protruding through his vertebrae, resulting in partial paralysis of his legs. This neural tube defect, called , may have been caused by Lori's insufficient intake of during pregnancy. This micronutrient is necessary for regenerating the active form of .

The condition is called "Spinal Bifida", caused by lack of vitamin B12 which helps regenerate the active form of folate.

Explanation:

Because Lori is a vegan, her vitamin B12 intake which comes from animal products such as meat, is not enough. She has to take supplements to make up for the lack of it in her diet.

As stated in the question, this lack of vitamin B12 causes her child to have a defect in his spinal cord called Spinal Bifida that defines a spinal cord or spine that has not fully developed. The vitamin B12 is necessary for regenerating the active form of folate.

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