Nutrition of the woman before and during pregnancy and maternal perinatal outcomes

Abstract

The nutritional status of the mother before and during pregnancy has been confirmed in recent years as one of the most influential environmental factors in fetal development. This study focuses on the first phases of the gestation process or periconceptional period: preconception, conception, implantation, placentation and embryogenesis; since they represent a critical step in pregnancy outcomes. A bibliographic review of the evidence of the impact of maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy on maternal and child health outcomes was carried out and 50 articles were included that were identified by searching databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Interventional trials and observational studies show that periconceptional folic acid supplementation significantly reduced the risk of neural tube defects. Observational studies suggest that preconception and periconceptional intake of vitamin and mineral supplements are associated with a reduced risk of having children with low birth weight and / or small gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PTB).