scholarly journals Nutritional support in pregnancy: possibilities for the prevention of obstetric complications

2021 ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
O. I. Mikhailova ◽  
D. D. Mirzabekova ◽  
N. E. Kan ◽  
V. L. Tyutyunnik

This review focuses on the causes and consequences of nutritional deficiencies in the pregnant woman’s diet, as well as on the possibilities of its supplementation. It has been shown that inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals during pregnancy is accompanied by a lack of nutrient supply to the fetus, which can cause growth retardation, low birth weight and other obstetric and perinatal complications.According to the analysed guidelines and recommendations, the body’s need for vitamins and minerals increases at least twice as much during pregnancy. Adverse effects of the environment, a number of gastrointestinal and liver diseases, chronic diseases, antibiotic therapy, etc. increase this need.However, adequate nutritional support of the fetus is the result of several steps. These include the frequency of maternal food intake, the availability of nutrients in the food and the ability of the placenta to transport substrates effectively to the fetus.The most recommended vitamin for consumption in pregnancy is folic acid, alone or in combination with other B vitamins, as its deficiency leads to birth defects in the child.The authors of this review have reviewed a number of large studies conducted over the past decade that recommend iron and folic acid for pregnant women, regardless of dietary intake, as they have proven beneficial effects on the course and outcome of pregnancy. Folic acid, according to current recommendations, must be prescribed to every pregnant woman in the form of 400 mcg tablets daily regardless of her diet. Other most important and necessary vitamins for pregnant women are: vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, PP, pantothenic acid, biotin.

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 341
Author(s):  
Prema Ramachandran ◽  
Amrita Pramanik ◽  
K. Kalaivani

In India prevalence of anaemia and vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy are widespread. National programmes recommend that two tablets of iron and folic acid (IFA) and two tablets of calcium and vitamin D (Ca & Vit D) to be given every day from second trimester till delivery. To minimize the side effects and increase compliance, it is advised that each tablet should be taken after a meal. Most households follow a three meal pattern. A study was taken up to find out how IFA and Ca & Vit D supplementations can be fitted into the habitual three meal pattern. A short term crossover supplementation study was carried out on 38 pregnant women to assess side effects following consumption after lunch of one or two tablets containing 500mg elemental calcium (as calcium carbonate) and 250 IU vitamin D or 60 mg of elemental iron as ferrous sulphate. Prevalence of side effects was higher in women who received iron supplements as compared to Ca & Vit D supplements. Taking two tablets of Ca & Vit D together after meal was associated with significantly higher prevalence of side effects as compared to taking one tablet after meal. Taking two tablets of iron together after meal was not associated with any significant increase in prevalence of side effects as compared to one tablet. Giving two tablets of iron together after one meal and giving one tablet of calcium and vitamin after two meals is feasible option for providing two tablets each of iron and Ca & Vit D to pregnant women who habitually follow a three meal pattern.


Author(s):  
Dattatraya D. Bant ◽  
Shiv Kumar

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in India and world. Anaemia in pregnancy continues to be a problem in spite of national programs for its prevention and control. It accounts for 1/5th of maternal deaths worldwide and 16% in India and is the major factor responsible for low birth weight, abortions, premature birth, and post-partum haemorrhage. Hence determining the status and factors influencing anaemia among pregnant women is essential to treat and prevent the same. Objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with anaemia among pregnant women.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant women attending for antenatal care at KIMS OPD from 3rd June to 4th July. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was applied to collect data. Haemoglobin estimation was done by Sahli’s method.Results: Prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was found to be 81%; majority had moderate anaemia 57%. The mean age of pregnant women in the study is 24.55 years and 46.5% belong to lower socioeconomic status, 43% lived in joint families. Factors influencing anaemia were multi-parity, short inter-pregnancy interval, no history of recent deworming and iron and folic acid tablets intake.Conclusions: In the present study, the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was found to be very high i.e., 81% especially among illiterates, low income groups, multiparous women, short inter-pregnancy interval, no history of recent deworming and iron and folic acid tablets intake. 


1967 ◽  
Vol 5 (24) ◽  
pp. 96-96

Earlier this year (Drug Therap. Bull. March, 17 p. 22) we concluded that pregnant women should routinely be given prophylactic iron and folic acid, preferably in a preparation providing 300–500 mcg folic acid and not less than 80 mg ferrous iron a day. At that time no such preparation was available, but Arthur H. Cox & Co. Ltd. have now made one in response to our suggestion. Cox’s tablet contains ferrous fumarate 120 mg (i.e. 40 mg elemental iron) and folic acid 200 mcg. Two tablets daily provide enough iron and folate for prophylaxis; three daily can be prescribed for unreliable tablet takers. 1000 tablets cost the retail pharmacist 23/6d, so that one week’s supply costs 4d (basic NHS price). In larger quantities the tablets cost substantially less.


1964 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-14

Mild deficiency of folic acid is common in the later months of normal pregnancy, due apparently to increased demand and in some cases to impaired absorption1. Megaloblastic anaemia from this cause is not rare, but more frequently a lesser degree of deficiency complicates lack of iron, and in such cases the anaemia responds only to the combined administration of both substances. Deficiency of folic acid has been found in patients with accidental haemorrhage and may be found in anaemia in the puerperium.


1968 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 12.1-12

Abbott Laboratories have drawn our attention to their Ferrograd Folic tablets which were introduced shortly after we discussed combined iron and folic acid tablets (DTB March 17, 1967, p. 22.). Like A. H. Cox’s ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablet (DTB November 24, 1967, p. 96), Ferrograd Folic provides what we concluded were appropriate amounts of folic acid and iron for prophylaxis of folate and iron deficiency in pregnancy. Each tablet contains 350 mcg folic acid and 105 mg elemental iron as slowly released ferrous sulphate; the dose is one tablet daily. The basic NHS cost of one week’s supply is 1/9d, much more than that of Cox’s tablets, but slow release of the iron is probably an advantage for some patients.


2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 342-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Elmadfa ◽  
Alexa L. Meyer

Vitamins are essential nutrients for many body functions and particularly important during growth. Adequate supply in pregnancy and in early infancy is therefore crucial, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the needed amounts of vitamins of children older than six months and also during pregnancy. Recommendations for intake levels are generally derived by extrapolation from data for infants based in turn on the contents in breast milk and those for adults. A vitamin of particular importance in pregnancy is folic acid due to its role in the development of the brain and nerve system and the prevention of fetal neural tube defects (NTD). Mandatory fortification of flour and certain other grain products in many countries has been associated with a reduction in NTD incidence. However, other deficiencies or suboptimal status of B vitamins, especially B6 and B12 have been repeatedly reported in pregnant women also in high-income countries. Vitamin A is one of the three most critical micronutrients globally and pregnant women and young children are especially vulnerable to deficiencies. Night blindness, anemia, and immunodeficiency are major consequences of inadequate supply in these populations. Much attention has recently been accorded vitamin D that is also critical in pregnant women and young children for instance because of its involvement in bone mineralization but also its more recently discovered immune-modulating function that is thought to prevent development of autoimmune diseases like diabetes mellitus type I. A healthy balanced diet provides the best basis for optimal pregnancy outcome, lactation performance, and complementary feeding. However, supplements or fortified foods may be needed to cover the high requirements especially of critical vitamins such as vitamin D and folic acid and to correct unfavorable dietary patterns in women or to adapt foods to the needs of young children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (217) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Gupta ◽  
Manisha Chhetry

Introduction: Poor dental hygiene has been associated with various perinatal complications in studiesdone worldwide but few studies in Nepal have explored the knowledge of pregnant ladies regardingdental hygiene. The aim of the study was to know the knowledge and practices of pregnant womenregarding oral health in a tertiary care center in Nepal. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital fromJanuary 15, 2018 to June 15, 2018 after approval from the Institutional Review Committee of NobelMedical College. Convenience sampling was done. Fifty pregnant women admitted in antenatalward were interviewed regarding their knowledge of dental care in pregnancy, the common dentalproblems they faced and the treatment taken. A predesigned proforma was used and results wereanalyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: Twenty two (44%) patients reported dental problems during pregnancy. Bleeding gumswas seen in 7 (14%) and toothache in 7 (14%) were commonly reported dental problems. Forty seven(94%) patients acknowledged that routine dental care was needed for health, only 6 (12%) wereaware that poor dental health could affect baby weight. Oral health not seen as priority in 24 (48%)was the main barrier to seeking dental care in pregnancy followed by costs of treatment in 18 (36%)and safety concerns in pregnancy in 8 (16%) cases. Conclusions: Though dental problems were a common occurrence in pregnancy, utilization ofservices was low for the same. The participants reported significant barriers to obtaining dental careincluding lack of knowledge about the importance of maternal oral health and the treatment costs.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249789
Author(s):  
Meseret Belete Fite ◽  
Kedir Teji Roba ◽  
Lemessa Oljira ◽  
Abera Kenay Tura ◽  
Tesfaye Assebe Yadeta

Background Anemia is one of the world’s leading cause of disability and the most serious global public health issues. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted very carefully in order to give up the pooled compliance of Iron and Folic-Acid Supplementation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods To conduct this brief systematic review and meta-analysis, a related literature search was done from different sources, PubMed Medline and Google Scholar Journals. Then IFA Supplementation related searching engine was used to make the work more meaningful and intensive. Moreover, we used modified Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale for cross sectional studies to assess the quality of the study in terms of their inclusion. Then, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was followed to carry out the work in a carful manner. Finally, the pooled effect size was computed using the review manager and Compressive Meta-analysis software. Results Twenty-three studies, which encompassed 24272 pregnant women, were chosen for the analysis. From those an overall prevalence of compliance with Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) in pregnancy in SSA was 39.2%. However, the result from meta-analysis showed that women who were counseled on IFAS in their courses of pregnancy were 1.96 times more likely to adhere to IFAS compared to those who were not counseled [OR:1.96, 95% CI (1.76-,5.93)]. Moreover, it showed that women who had knowledge of IFAS were 2.71 times more likely to have compliance with IFAS as compared to those who had no knowledge of IFAS [OR:2.71, 95% CI (1.33,5.54)]. Also it revealed that those women who had knowledge of anemia were 5.42 times more likely to have compliance with IFAS as compared with those who had no knowledge of anemia [OR5.42, 95% CI (1.52, 19.43)]. Furthermore, women who had received fourth visit for ANC were 1.54 times more likely to have compliance with IFAS as compared to those who had not received for ANC [OR 1.54, 95% CI (0.66, 3.58.43)]. Conclusions Our finding from this systematic review and meta-analysis shows the low case in prevalence of compliance to IFAS among pregnant women in SSA. Predictors for this includes: knowledge about anemia, knowledge about IFAS, counseling on IFAS and receiving fourth antenatal care visit were statistically correlated positively with compliance to IFAS. This demands careful appraisal of effect of prevention work for functioning policy, programs and plan nutrition intrusions for refining maternal dietary intake in gestation. Also dietary education intrusion requires to be planned to satisfy the needs of pregnant women. So we hope that the result of this study might be essential as a bridging stone for policy makers of Africa; exclusively for maternal and child health care. Finally, we recommended further studies to be conducted in the area of the study for more intensive and detailed suggestions.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e0120404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Wendt ◽  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Melissa Young ◽  
Amy Webb-Girard ◽  
Carol Hogue ◽  
...  

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