Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia during Pregnancy: A Single Centre Canadian Study

Background Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common and widespread nutritional deficiency in both developing and developed countries (Mei et al., 2011; World Health Organization, 2001). Women of childbearing potential are at highest risk of ID due to regular menstrual losses as well as the increased iron demands of pregnancy and lactation (Lynch, 2011; McMahon, 2010). During pregnancy, the risk for ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) increases due to the additional iron requirements to support expansion of blood volume/red cell mass and growth of the fetus and placenta (McMahon, 2010; Mei et al., 2011). Common symptoms of ID with or without anemia during pregnancy include fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, higher rates of preterm delivery, and red blood cell transfusions (World Health Organization, 2001). Poor prenatal iron status is also associated with diminished cognitive performance, language ability, and motor functions in the child (Tamura et al., 2002). Despite international recommendations and guidelines on the screening and management of ID in pregnancy, it remains a problem of epidemic proportions and is often left unrecognized and untreated. To increase recognition and appropriate management of ID and IDA in pregnancy, we developed and implemented a quality improvement project, the IRON Deficiency project in Pregnancy: Maternal Iron Optimization (IRON MOM). This project was implemented January 1st, 2017 at St. Michael's Hospital (SMH), an inner-city tertiary centre in Toronto, Canada. The IRON MOM included educational resources for clinicians and patients, standardized oral iron prescriptions, modified lab requisitions, and clinical pathways to guide the screening, diagnosis and management of ID for obstetricians. Objective The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of ID and IDA in unselectively screened pregnant women after the implementation of the IRON MOM quality improvement project. Methods We performed a retrospective audit of administrative laboratory data collected from all obstetrical clinics between January 1 and December 31, 2017. ID was defined as a serum ferritin <50μg/L (Guyatt et al., 1992) . IDA was defined as a dual diagnosis of ID and anemia based on hemoglobin levels <110 g/L and ferritin levels <50μg/L. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and proportions. SAS version 9.4 was used to perform the analyses. Results A total of 1830 pregnant women were screened for ID during their obstetrical visit. Of the 1830 pregnant women, 1307 had one ferritin test and 523 pregnant women had two or more tests. A total of 91.3% (1193/1307) of pregnant women were iron deficient (ferritin <50μg/L) where 31.5% (411/1307) had ferritin levels between 15-29μg/L, and 49.4% (645/1307) had severe ID (ferritin <15μg/L). For the women who had two or more ferritin tests, 78.6% (411/ 523) were iron deficient at the first visit which then increased to 96.2% (503/523) by their second visit. When ferritin and hemoglobin values were linked and measured on the same day, 25.9% (346/1336) of pregnant women had IDA over the course of their outpatient care. Conclusion After the implementation of the IRON MOM, we found an extremely high prevalence of ID in our pregnant patient population in the outpatient setting. This confirms that ID remains an underappreciated problem, even at a tertiary care centre. Our findings highlight a tremendous gap in awareness, which demands strategies to improve knowledge translation. Future directions include the simplification and digitization of IRON MOM to empower pregnant women to advocate for their care. Disclosures Sholzberg: Novartis: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy: A Single Centre Canadian Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-116792 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 4896-4896

Author(s):

Grace Tang ◽

Andrea Lausman ◽

Jessica Petrucci ◽

Jameel Abdulrehman ◽

Rosane Nisenbaum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Iron Status ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Quality Improvement Project ◽

Improvement Project ◽

Iron Deficient ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract Background Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common and widespread nutritional deficiency in both developing and developed countries (WHO, 2001; Mei et al., 2011). Women of child bearing age are at the highest risk, but this risk increases even more during pregnancy. The expansion of blood volume, growth of the fetus and placenta increase demand for iron to approximately 5.0mg/day by the third trimester (Met et al., 2011). Common symptoms of ID during pregnancy include fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating (WHO, 2001). Poor prenatal iron status is associated with diminished cognitive performance, language ability, and motor functions in the child (Tamura et al, 2002). For the mother, it is associated with risk of blood transfusion and post-partum depression. Despite international recommendations and guidelines on the management of ID in pregnancy, it remains a problem of epidemic proportions and is often unrecognized and left untreated. To increase awareness of ID, a quality improvement project, IRON Deficiency project in Pregnancy: Maternal Iron Optimization (IRON MOM) was implemented January 1st, 2017 at St. Michael's Hospital (SMH), in Toronto, Canada. Phase 1 of the project involved adapting lab requisitions and workflow in the obstetrics clinic to incorporate routine measurement of ferritin in week 12, 16 and 28 of pregnancy. As part of the IRON MOM, laboratory requisitions were modified to include ferritin as part of routine screening for all pregnant women. Objective The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of ID in pregnant women consistently screened for ID after the implementation of the IRON MOM quality improvement project at a tertiary hospital in Toronto, Canada. Methods Administrative laboratory data was collected from the electronic medical record system at SMH, Toronto, Canada between January 1 and December 31, 2017. Suboptimal iron stores was defined as serum ferritin between 30-50μg/L. ID was defined as serum ferritin between 15-29μg/L, and severe ID was defined as <15μg/L. Significant anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels <100 g/L. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate proportions. SAS version 9.4 was used to perform the analyses. Results In 2017, 2400 ferritin tests were completed on pregnant women at our institution. A total of 76.8% (1844/2400) of tests demonstrated iron deficiency with a ferritin <30μg/L. Of those, 30.2% (726/2400) had ferritin between 15-29μg/L, and 46.6% (1118/2400) were severely iron deficient with a ferritin <15μg/L (Figure 1). 3282 hemoglobin checks, at delivery, occurred in this same one-year period and 10.5% (345/3282) were significantly anemic (<100 g/L). Of those, 6.2% (204/3282) had hemoglobin levels between 90-99g/L, 2.6% (85/3282) had hemoglobin levels between 80-89g/L, and 1.7% (56/3282) had hemoglobin levels <80g/L. Conclusion We found an extremely high prevalence of ID in our pregnant patient population. This confirms that ID remains an underappreciated problem, even at a tertiary care centre. Our findings highlight a tremendous gap in awareness, which demands strategies to improve knowledge translation. Future directions include the simplification and digitization of IRON MOM to empower pregnant patients to advocate for their care. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Lausman: Ferring: Other: gave a talk.

Download Full-text

The role of hepcidin in the main iron-deficiency syndromes in pregnancy

I P Pavlov Russian Medical Biological Herald ◽

10.23888/pavlovj2016496-103 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 96-103

Author(s):

M Ayari ◽

V G Demikhov ◽

I M Mirov ◽

E N Zinovyeva ◽

O N Zhourina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Key Factor ◽

Anemia During Pregnancy ◽

Mixed Origin ◽

Main Regulator ◽

In Pregnancy

Currently, there is evidence that hepcidin is the main regulator of iron metabolism in human and pathogenesis key factor for anemia of inflammation. However, the role of hepcidin in multifactorial pathogenesis of anemia in pregnancy is not clear. We presented the results of the laboratory examinations of 78 pregnant women sera in hepcidin, ferritin, erythropoietin during pregnancy, and 116 sera of pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and anemia of mixed origin. The obtained data indicate a statistically significant decrease in the mean hepcidin concentration in pregnants versus non pregnant women. Mean hepcidin level in pregnant women with IDA was decreased, compared with anemia of mixed origin pregnants (p<0.0001). Evaluation of hepcidin concentrations may be useful laboratory test for differential diagnostic of anemia during pregnancy and for determination of optimal therapeutic option between oral iron, parenteral iron or using erythropoiesis -stimulating agents (ESAs) in combination with iron products.

Download Full-text

MARKETING STUDY OF MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS FOR THERAPY OF IRON DEFICIENT ANEMIA AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL

"Medical & pharmaceutical journal "Pulse" ◽

10.26787/nydha-2686-6838-2020-22-9-74-81 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 74-81

Author(s):

Goryachev A.B. ◽

Kabakova T.I. ◽

Khachatryan M.M.

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

World Health ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Deficient ◽

Legal Forms ◽

Trade Names ◽

Health Organization ◽

First Year Of Life ◽

Municipal Level

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency anemia affects more than 30% of the world's population. In the Russian Federation, anemia is diagnosed in 35,6% of pregnant women, and the prevalence rate among children in the first year of life is about 83,8 ‰. In the Stavropol Territory, more than 10 thousand cases of anemia are registered annually, of which half are the first. More than 20% of these cases are diagnosed in children and adolescents. In this regard, there is a steady dynamics in the consumption of a specific nomenclature of antianemic drugs at various levels of the drug supply system: federal, regional and municipal. The purpose of the work was to analyze the availability of antianemic drugs used in the treatment of patients living in the city of Pyatigorsk, Stavropol Territory. In the course of work, we used methods of content analysis, analytical, direct observation, grouping and comparison. The studies were carried out from november 2019 to february 2020 on the basis of 11 pharmacy of various legal forms included in the pharmacy chains «Vita +», «Gorzdrav», and the «Pharmacy Warehouse» located in Pyatigorsk. When studying the pharmaceutical range of antianemic drugs, it was found that at the municipal level it includes 12 trade names of drugs based on Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. Analysis of the liquidity of the prices of antianemic drugs in the pharmacies of Pyatigorsk and the solvency of the population showed the economic affordability of most of the studied range of drugs for patients. An analysis of the width and depth of the range of antianemic drugs for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia revealed the presence of reserves for increasing the range of products for patients. It is concluded that it is necessary to consolidate the efforts of medical and pharmaceutical workers to expand the range of antianemic drugs used by patients, which will increase the quality of medical care.

Download Full-text

The role of erythropoietin in the pathogenesis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy and in the postpartum period

Journal of obstetrics and women s diseases ◽

10.17816/jowd89264 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 17-22

Author(s):

Eduard K. Ailamazyan ◽

М. A. Tarasova ◽

А. А. Zaitsev ◽

А. V. Samarina

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Postpartum Period ◽

Pathological Condition ◽

The Body ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Fetoplacental Complex ◽

Iron Deficient ◽

Anemia During Pregnancy

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a very common pathological condition during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In the structure of hematological diseases in pregnant women, anemias account for about 90% and in most cases are iron deficient [3, 17, 19]. In the third trimester of pregnancy and in the early postpartum period, almost every woman has a latent iron deficiency, and 3040% develop IDA [4, 15, 16, 20, 26]. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the frequency of IDA in Russia has increased 6.3 times over the past ten years, and in St. Petersburg - almost 2 times. The development of anemia during pregnancy is due to an imbalance of iron in the body and is associated with its increased costs for creating a fetoplacental complex, an increase in iron metabolism and a redistribution of this trace element in favor of the fetus. Iron deficiency in the body of pregnant women and women in childbirth is associated with inadequate replacement of losses due to alimentary and mobilized iron.

Download Full-text

Terapi Pemberian Besi pada Penderita Anemia Defisiensi Besi

e-CliniC ◽

10.35790/ecl.v9i2.32863 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 311

Author(s):

Sabatika R Kapoh ◽

Linda W. A. Rotty ◽

Efata B. I. Polii

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Literature Review ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Developed Countries ◽

World Health ◽

Iron Therapy ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Adult Men ◽

Health Organization

Abstract: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is caused by deficiency of iron needed for hemoglobin synthesis. Based on WHO data 2011, of 100% cases of patients with severe anemia, there were 50% of pregnant women, 49% of non-pregnant women, and 42% of children suffered from iron deficiency. Other literatures mentioned about 2-5% of adult men and post menopause women were diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia in developed countries. This study was aimed to determine the relationship between iron therapy in patients and iron deficiency anemia. This was a literature review study, summarizing the results of studies that included iron therapy to iron deficiency anemia patients. The results showed a positive result of iron therapy among iron deficiency anemia patients. In conclusion, there is an increase in hemoglobin among iron deficiency anemia patients after being given iron therapy.Keywords: iron deficiency anemia, iron therapy Abstrak: Anemia defisiensi besi (ADB) disebabkan oleh kekurangan zat besi yang dibutuhkan untuk sintesis hemoglobin. Berdasarkan data dari WHO (World Health Organization) tahun 2011, dari 100% kasus penderita anemia berat yang dilaporkan, diperkirakan 50% wanita hamil, 49% wanita tidak hamil, dan 42% kasus anak penderita anemia didapatkan berkaitan dengan kekurangan zat besi. Data lain menyebutkan sekitar 2-5% pria dewasa dan wanita pasca menopause mengalami ADB di negara maju. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan pemberian besi pada pasien anemia defisiensi besi. Jenis penelitian ialah literature review. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan hasil positif pemberian terapi besi pada pasien anemia defisiensi besi. Simpulan penelitian ini ialah terdapat peningkatan hemoglobin pada pasien anemia defisiensi besi setelah diberikan terapi besi.Kata kunci: anemia defisiensi besi, terapi besi

Download Full-text

A study for efficacy and safety of ferric carboxymaltose versus iron sucrose in iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in tertiary care hospital

International Journal of Reproduction Contraception Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20192418 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 2280

Author(s):

Divyani Agrawal ◽

Deepa Lokwani Masand

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Intravenous Iron ◽

Iron Sucrose ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Ferric Carboxymaltose ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Anemia During Pregnancy

Background: Anemia is one of the common manageable problem among the pregnant women worldwide, which contributes to maternal and perinatal mortality. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose with intravenous iron sucrose in treating anemia during pregnancy. Objective of this study was to compare safety and efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose with intravenous ferric sucrose in iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.Methods: It’s an interventional prospective study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NIMS, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India constituting of 100 pregnant women. Group 1- 50 pregnant women were treated with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and Group 2: 50 pregnant women were treated with intravenous iron sucrose. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were measured pre and post treatment with parenteral iron therapy. The efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in comparison to intravenous iron sucrose was assessed. The evaluation of safety and tolerance with the parenteral therapy was also performed.Results: Anemia during pregnancy was more prevalent among the reproductive age group and in multiparous women. The mean rise in the hemoglobin level with ferric carboxymaltose was 2.92 gm/dl and with that of iron, sucrose was 1.08 gm/dl. The man rise in the serum ferritin levels with ferric carboxymaltose was 64.97ng/ml and with iron sucrose was 31.64 ng/ml. Ferric carboxymaltose was observed to be safer with no adverse events in comparison to the Iron sucrose which was related with adverse events among 03 pregnant women.Conclusions: Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose was more efficacious and safer in comparison to intravenous iron sucrose among pregnant women. Hence, ferric carboxymaltose is the drug of choice in treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

Download Full-text

Treatment of Anemia of Chronic Disease with True Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy

Journal of Pregnancy ◽

10.1155/2017/4265091 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gabriela Amstad Bencaiova ◽

Alexander Krafft ◽

Roland Zimmermann ◽

Tilo Burkhardt

Keyword(s):

Chronic Disease ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Intravenous Iron ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Anemia Of Chronic Disease ◽

Human Erythropoietin ◽

Anemia Treatment ◽

In Pregnancy

Objective.We assess and compare the efficacy of anemia treatment in pregnant women with anemia of chronic disease with true iron deficiency and in women with iron deficiency anemia.Study Design.Fifty patients with moderate anemia (hemoglobin 8.0–9.9 g/dl) and iron deficiency (ferritin < 15 μg/l) were treated in the Anemia Clinic at the Department of Obstetrics.Results.All patients showed stimulation of erythropoiesis as evidenced by an increase in reticulocyte count at day eight of therapy and showed an increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit at the end of therapy (p<0.001). The target hemoglobin (≥10.5 g/dl) was achieved in 45/50 women (90%). 12 patients showed anemia of chronic disease with true iron deficiency (12/50; 24%). Seven women (7/12; 59%) with anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency responded well to anemia treatment. 50% of women with anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency (3/6) responded well to intravenous iron, and 67% (4/6) responded well to the combination of intravenous iron and recombinant human erythropoietin.Conclusion.Because of frequent true iron deficiency in pregnant women with anemia of chronic disease, anemia of chronic disease in pregnancy is often falsely diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia.

Download Full-text

KESAHIHAN DIAGNOSTIK HEMOGLOBIN RETIKULOSIT UNTUK DETEKSI DEFISIENSI ZAT BESI DI KEHAMILAN (Diagnostic Validity of Reticulocyte Hemoglobin for Iron Deficiency Detection in Pregnancy)

INDONESIAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY AND MEDICAL LABORATORY ◽

10.24293/ijcpml.v21i3.1282 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 285

Author(s):

Tri Ratnaningsih ◽

Budi Mulyono ◽

Sutaryo Sutaryo ◽

Iwan Dwiprahasto

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Transferrin Saturation ◽

Diagnostic Validity ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Iron Deficient ◽

Roche Diagnostics ◽

Edta Tube ◽

In Pregnancy

Entering the second trimester of pregnancy, more iron is required due to the increase in erythrocyte mass, plasma volume andthe development of fetus as well as chorion. Iron is needed the most in the third trimester. The existing hematological iron stageparameters can only detect iron deficiency in the latest stage. The aim of this study was to know the assessment validity of Ret-Heexamination as a new parameter to diagnose iron deficiency in pregnant women with anemia, as well as a screening tool for those interm pregnancy without anemia. The research design was cross sectional. The subjects were women in term pregnancy, gathered fromPKU Muhammadiyah Hospital, Bantul Yogyakarta from May to November 2013. A seven (7) mL blood sample was taken from thecubital vein of the subjects. Two mL of the sample was tested for routine hematological examination using an EDTA tube, while theRet-He was assessed using an automatic hematological instrument Sysmex XT-2000-i (Symex Corporation, Kobe, Japan). The serumof the remaining five (5) mL was used to check the serum iron and TIBC to obtain the saturation value (Tsat) using Cobas analyzerC501 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany), while the serum ferritin (SF) was examined using Minividas. The subjects were classified into two(2) groups based on the Hb levels, namely: anemia (Hb<11 g/dL) and those who did not (Hb≥11 g/dL). Furthermore, they were alsoclassified into two (2) groups based on transferrin saturation values: iron deficient (Tsat <9%) and normal (Tsat ≥9%). From 291subjects, 59 (20.3%) were found to have anemia and 232 (79.7%) did not. The cut off value of Ret-He to diagnose iron deficiency inpregnant women with anemia was 29.8 pg (82% sensitivity and 72% specificity). Meanwhile, the cut-off value of Ret-He for irondeficiency screening in pregnant women without anemia was 29.8 pg, with a sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 87% respectively.The Ret-He holds a good diagnostic validity to detect iron deficiency in pregnancy, with or without anemia.

Download Full-text

REGAIN STUDY: Retrospective Study to Assess the Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose in the Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnant Women

Anemia ◽

10.1155/2019/4640635 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Saleema Wani ◽

Mariyam Noushad ◽

Shabana Ashiq

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Oral Iron ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Ferric Carboxymaltose ◽

Blood Hemoglobin ◽

Iv Iron ◽

In Pregnancy

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during pregnancy arises because of preexisting inadequate stores or complex physiological changes and can lead to serious maternal and fetal complications. Oral iron, either as iron sulfate or fumarate, with or without folic acid, is the most commonly used treatment for IDA in pregnancy. Intravenous (IV) iron has a role in the treatment of IDA in pregnancy, particularly in women who present late, display severe anemia (Hb ≤ 9 g/dL), or risk factors, and are intolerant/noncompliant of oral iron. Previously, administration of IV iron was minimal, owing to potentially serious anaphylactic reactions. Recently, new IV iron products have been developed, offering better compliance, tolerability, efficacy, and a good safety profile. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in the treatment of IDA in pregnant women in the UAE. Data from 1001 pregnant women who received at least one administration of FCM (500, 1000, or 1500 mg) during their second or third trimester of pregnancy (2 years backward from study initiation) were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records at Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Results showed that 41.4% of the women were able to achieve an increase of ≥2 g/dL in blood hemoglobin overall. A change of ≥2 g/dL was achieved by 27.5% of women administered a dose of 500 mg, 39.2% of women administered a dose of 1000 mg, and 63.9% of women administered a dose of 1500 mg of IV FCM. This indicates a directly proportional relationship between increasing IV FCM dose and the increase of ≥2 g/dL in blood hemoglobin. A total of 7 (0.7%) women reported mild, nonserious adverse events during the study. Within the limits of this retrospective study, IV FCM therapy was safe and effective in increasing the mean hemoglobin of pregnant women with IDA.

Download Full-text

The role of proper maternal nutrition during pregnancy for caries prevention in both mother and child. Opinion of the working group of the Polish Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future on dental prophylaxis in pregnant women

Nowa Stomatologia ◽

10.25121/ns.2018.23.2.84 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Renata Chałas ◽

Angelika Kobylińska ◽

Magdalena Kukurba-Setkowicz ◽

Anna Szulik ◽

Elżbieta Pels

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Maternal Nutrition ◽

Well Being ◽

Caries Prevention ◽

World Health ◽

Dental Prophylaxis ◽

Mother And Child ◽

Health Organization ◽

In Pregnancy

Introduction. Proper nutrition in pregnancy has effects on the health and well-being of the mother as well as is a key factor responsible for foetal growth and development, which are initiated at conception and last throughout pregnancy. Aim. The aim of the paper was to present relevant data on the role of prenatal maternal nutrition for caries prevention in both mother and child. Material and methods. Pubmed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, guidelines of dental associations and World Health Organization were searched using the following keywords: “diet”, “dentition”, “pregnancy”, “oral health in pregnancy”. Results. The diet of a pregnant woman should be well-balanced and rich in proteins, calcium, phosphorus, fluorine and vitamins (A, C and D). Women should avoid sneaks between meals or at night to avoid dental plaque accumulation and oral pH decrease. Balanced nutrition influences the development of future nutritional habits of the child as taste receptors begin to develop already at month 4 of pregnancy. High maternal consumption of confectionery in this period may in the future increase the child’s tendency to consume sweet food products. Conclusions. There is a need to intensify dental prophylaxis among pregnant women through introduction and promotion of proper nutrition in dental offices, up-dating teaching programs for dental hygienists and education in birth schools.

Download Full-text