HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ladipo, O. A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ladipo, O. A Agricola Articles by Ladipo, O. A

Nutrition in pregnancy: mineral and vitamin supplements^1,2,3

¹ From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Pregnancy is associated with physiologic changes that result in increased plasma volume and red blood cells and decreased concentrations of circulating nutrient-binding proteins and micronutrients. In many developing countries, these physiologic changes can be aggravated by undernutrition, leading to micronutrient deficiency states, such as anemia, that can have disastrous consequences for both mothers and newborn infants. Multiple micronutrients are often taken by pregnant women in developed countries, but their benefits are limited, except for prophylactic folic acid taken during the periconceptional period. Women in developing countries may benefit from multiple-micronutrient prophylaxis in pregnancy, but the underlying basis and rationale for changing from supplementation with iron and folate to supplementation with multiple micronutrients has not been debated in the context of existing program objectives. There is an urgent need for this discussion so that both program effectiveness and program efficacy can be improved.

Key Words: Nutrition • vitamins • trace elements • minerals • pregnancy • requirements

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Cetin, C. Berti, and S. Calabrese Role of micronutrients in the periconceptional period Hum. Reprod. Update, June 30, 2009; (2009) dmp025v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q. Li, H. Yan, L. Zeng, Y. Cheng, W. Liang, S. Dang, Q. Wang, and I. Tsuji Effects of Maternal Multimicronutrient Supplementation on the Mental Development of Infants in Rural Western China: Follow-up Evaluation of a Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial Pediatrics, April 1, 2009; 123(4): e685 - e692. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Krauss-Etschmann, R. Shadid, C. Campoy, E. Hoster, H. Demmelmair, M. Jimenez, A. Gil, M. Rivero, B. Veszpremi, T. Decsi, et al. Effects of fish-oil and folate supplementation of pregnant women on maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid: a European randomized multicenter trial Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2007; 85(5): 1392 - 1400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Mannion, K. Gray-Donald, L. Johnson-Down, and K. G. Koski Lactating Women Restricting Milk Are Low on Select Nutrients J. Am. Coll. Nutr., April 1, 2007; 26(2): 149 - 155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Makola, D. M. Ash, S. R. Tatala, M. C. Latham, G. Ndossi, and H. Mehansho A Micronutrient-Fortified Beverage Prevents Iron Deficiency, Reduces Anemia and Improves the Hemoglobin Concentration of Pregnant Tanzanian Women J. Nutr., May 1, 2003; 133(5): 1339 - 1346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. H.D. Fall, C. S. Yajnik, S. Rao, A. A. Davies, N. Brown, and H. J.W. Farrant Micronutrients and Fetal Growth J. Nutr., May 1, 2003; 133(5): 1747S - 1756. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Nestel and F. Davidson Introduction Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2000; 72(1): 209S - 211. [Full Text] [PDF]