There is growing evidence on the role of maternal nutrition and diet on a healthy pregnancy and childbearing. Lessons learned from the Thrifty Phenotype Hypothesis and from the recognition of maternal nutritional demands in pregnancy have highlighted the influence of the intrauterine environment on attaining health across the lifespan. In addition, specific nutrient supplementation needs to be addressed to provide better perinatal outcomes, and a positive pregnancy experience as well.
The World Health Organization recommends universal supplementation of iron and folic acid, and supplementation of Vitamin A and Calcium according to the epidemiological scenario. Other vitamins and minerals are included in the United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation (UNIMMAP) formulation, and their supplementation may influence birthweight. However, less is known about when to supplement each micronutrient, how this supplementation decreases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, if this is cost-effective, or even if this is necessary in well-nourished populations.
Nevertheless, since the late 20th century, important advances have been made in the antenatal care routine and in the diagnosis and management of chronic illness. Women are child-bearing later in life, have more pregnancies assisted by reproductive technologies, and are more frequently affected by conditions such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The increased prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in these populations (such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age babies) calls attention to put into practice strategies that improve pregnancy outcomes based on nutrient supplementation.
This Research Topic aims to publish high-quality manuscripts regarding nutritional requirements and supplementation in pregnancy and their impact on perinatal outcomes. Pregnancy is a window of opportunity of life-long health, both for mother and her neonate, and a translational approach of nutrient supplementation is needed. Research on the molecular mechanisms of nutrient supplementation should be investigated both in epidemiological and clinical studies. Low and high-risk pregnancies would benefit from studies that examine the effect of specific nutrient supplementation in pre-pregnancy and pregnancy periods.
This Research Topic is willing to accept all article types suggested by the Clinical Nutrition section of Frontiers in Nutrition, welcoming topics including but not limited to:
• Nutrient supplementation in healthy pregnant women;
• Nutrient supplementation in high-risk pregnancies (e.g., women affected by chronic illness, twin pregnancies, pregnancies assisted by reproductive technologies, women with short or long interpregnancy intervals, women with history of pregnancy loss);
• Regimens of supplementing specific nutrients, considering both pre-pregnancy and pregnancy (gestational ages) prescriptions;
• Relationships between nutrient supplementation and adverse pregnancy outcomes at the: a) epidemiological level, including the impact of switching from iron and folic acid supplement to micronutrient supplementation; b) clinical level, including ultrasonography and perinatal follow up; c) molecular level, including molecular mechanisms, placental transfer, chemical pathways, and omics research;
• Interferences of nutrient metabolism in pregnancy, including use of legal and illegal drugs;
• Implementation research and building capacity in low- and middle-income countries of putting evidence-based nutritional strategies into routine antenatal practice;
• Economic evaluations on nutrient supplementation in pregnancy at a populational level.
There is growing evidence on the role of maternal nutrition and diet on a healthy pregnancy and childbearing. Lessons learned from the Thrifty Phenotype Hypothesis and from the recognition of maternal nutritional demands in pregnancy have highlighted the influence of the intrauterine environment on attaining health across the lifespan. In addition, specific nutrient supplementation needs to be addressed to provide better perinatal outcomes, and a positive pregnancy experience as well.
The World Health Organization recommends universal supplementation of iron and folic acid, and supplementation of Vitamin A and Calcium according to the epidemiological scenario. Other vitamins and minerals are included in the United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation (UNIMMAP) formulation, and their supplementation may influence birthweight. However, less is known about when to supplement each micronutrient, how this supplementation decreases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, if this is cost-effective, or even if this is necessary in well-nourished populations.
Nevertheless, since the late 20th century, important advances have been made in the antenatal care routine and in the diagnosis and management of chronic illness. Women are child-bearing later in life, have more pregnancies assisted by reproductive technologies, and are more frequently affected by conditions such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The increased prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in these populations (such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age babies) calls attention to put into practice strategies that improve pregnancy outcomes based on nutrient supplementation.
This Research Topic aims to publish high-quality manuscripts regarding nutritional requirements and supplementation in pregnancy and their impact on perinatal outcomes. Pregnancy is a window of opportunity of life-long health, both for mother and her neonate, and a translational approach of nutrient supplementation is needed. Research on the molecular mechanisms of nutrient supplementation should be investigated both in epidemiological and clinical studies. Low and high-risk pregnancies would benefit from studies that examine the effect of specific nutrient supplementation in pre-pregnancy and pregnancy periods.
This Research Topic is willing to accept all article types suggested by the Clinical Nutrition section of Frontiers in Nutrition, welcoming topics including but not limited to:
• Nutrient supplementation in healthy pregnant women;
• Nutrient supplementation in high-risk pregnancies (e.g., women affected by chronic illness, twin pregnancies, pregnancies assisted by reproductive technologies, women with short or long interpregnancy intervals, women with history of pregnancy loss);
• Regimens of supplementing specific nutrients, considering both pre-pregnancy and pregnancy (gestational ages) prescriptions;
• Relationships between nutrient supplementation and adverse pregnancy outcomes at the: a) epidemiological level, including the impact of switching from iron and folic acid supplement to micronutrient supplementation; b) clinical level, including ultrasonography and perinatal follow up; c) molecular level, including molecular mechanisms, placental transfer, chemical pathways, and omics research;
• Interferences of nutrient metabolism in pregnancy, including use of legal and illegal drugs;
• Implementation research and building capacity in low- and middle-income countries of putting evidence-based nutritional strategies into routine antenatal practice;
• Economic evaluations on nutrient supplementation in pregnancy at a populational level.
