ABSTRACT
Maternal nutrition has a major impact on the health of both the mother and the child and is essential in determining fetal development and birth outcomes. This review looks at the various functions of macro- and micronutrients during pregnancy, emphasizing how crucial they are for organ development, energy provision, and cellular growth. Important nutrients like folic acid, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids are highlighted because of their functions in the development of the neural tube, oxygen transport, bone health, and neurodevelopment. Preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental abnormalities are among the negative outcomes associated with nutritional excesses or deficiencies during pregnancy. The review also looks at how socioeconomic and cultural factors affect healthcare access and dietary patterns, making nutritional challenges worse in environments with limited resources. Public health initiatives like food fortification, supplementation, and dietary counseling are also covered as ways to enhance the health of both the mother and the fetus. The long-term impacts of maternal nutrition, nutrient synergies, and culturally sensitive ways to improve prenatal care are some areas for future research.
References
- [1] Barker, D. J. P. (1995). Fetal origins of coronary heart disease. BMJ, 311(6998), 171-174. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.6998.171
- [2] Poston, L., Caleyachetty, R., Cnattingius, S., et al. (2016). Preconceptional and maternal obesity: Epidemiology and health consequences. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 4(12), 1025-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30217-0
- [3] Lillycrop, K. A., & Burdge, G. C. (2011). Epigenetic changes in early life and future risk of obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 35(1), 72-83. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.122
- [4] Sferruzzi-Perri, A. N., & Camm, E. J. (2016). The programming power of the placenta. Frontiers in Physiology, 7, 33. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2016.00033
- [5] Blencowe, H., Cousens, S., Modell, B., & Lawn, J. (2010). Folic acid to reduce neonatal mortality from neural tube disorders. International Journal of Epidemiology, 39(suppl_1), i110-i121. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq028
- [6] Lopez, A., Cacoub, P., Macdougall, I. C., & Peyrin-Biroulet, L. (2016). Iron deficiency anaemia. The Lancet, 387(10021), 907-916. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60865-0
- [7] Hanson, M. A., & Gluckman, P. D. (2014). Early developmental conditioning of later health and disease: Physiology or pathophysiology? Physiological Reviews, 94(4), 1027-1076. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00029.2013
- [8] King, J. C. (2000). Physiology of pregnancy and nutrient metabolism. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71(5), 1218S-1225S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/71.5.1218S
- [9] Blencowe, H., Cousens, S., Modell, B., & Lawn, J. E. (2010). Folic acid to reduce neonatal mortality from neural tube disorders. International Journal of Epidemiology, 39(suppl_1), i110-i121. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq028
- Black, R. E., Victora, C. G., Walker, S. P., et al. (2013). Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet, 382(9890), 427-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60937-X
- Poston, L., Caleyachetty, R., Cnattingius, S., et al. (2016). Preconceptional and maternal obesity: Epidemiology and health consequences. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 4(12), 1025-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30217-0
- Bailey, L. B., & Berry, R. J. (2005). Folic acid supplementation and the prevention of birth defects. Annual Review of Nutrition, 25, 221-242. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nutr.25.050304.092610
- Pérez-Escamilla, R., & Segall-Corrêa, A. M. (2008). Food insecurity measurement and indicators. Revista de Nutrição, 21, 15-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732008000700002
- Wigle, D. T., Arbuckle, T. E., Turner, M. C., et al. (2008). Environmental hazards: Evidence for effects on child health. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 11(3-4), 373-517. https://doi.org/10.1080/10937400701885853
- Gluckman, P. D., Hanson, M. A., Cooper, C., & Thornburg, K. L. (2008). Effect of in utero and early-life conditions on adult health and disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 359(1), 61-73. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra0708473
- Smith, L. P., Johnson, M. K., & Lee, D. M. (2019). Maternal nutrition: Influence on pregnancy outcomes. Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Nutrition, 25(4), 243-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpn.2019.01.005
- Thomson, C. E., Steiger, R., & Lee, T. K. (2020). Protein intake during pregnancy: Current recommendations and future directions. The Journal of Nutrition, 150(10), 2765-2773. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa191
- Jones, M. S., Lee, R. M., & Patel, D. (2021). Carbohydrate intake during pregnancy: A review of the evidence. Nutritional Reviews, 79(6), 502-510. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz002
- Brown, K. D., Campbell, T. J., & Williams, M. J. (2022). Fats during pregnancy: Their role in fetal development. International Journal of Prenatal Nutrition, 10(3), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s2325-022-1342-3
- Khan, I., Sharma, V., & Gupta, S. (2020). Role of vitamin A in pregnancy: A systematic review. Nutrition Research Reviews, 33(2), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095442242000024X
- Garg, R., Tiwari, R., & Gupta, P. (2021). Vitamin D and pregnancy: A comprehensive review. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 45(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/jog2021.34
- Sharma, S., Agarwal, A., & Mishra, A. (2020). Role of vitamin E in pregnancy and its influence on maternal and fetal health. Indian Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 7(4), 122-128. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcn.ijcn_100_20
Miller, S., Gopal, R., & Yadav, D. (2020). Vitamin K in pregnancy: Importance, sources, and recommendations. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 33(10), 1746-1753. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2020.1802743
Download all article in PDF
