Background/Objectives: Globally, momentum is building around antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS), with evidence that it is as effective as iron–folic acid supplementation in preventing maternal anemia and more effective in im...
Background/Objectives: Antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) improves birth outcomes more effectively than iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation alone. However, the acceptability of MMS among pregnant individuals, a critical fact...
In South Asia, an estimated 38% of preschool-age children have stunted growth. We aimed to assess the effect of WHO-recommended antenatal iron, and folic acid (IFA) supplements on smaller than average birth size and stunting in South Asian children &...
Effective coverage of antenatal iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation is important to prevent adverse maternal and newborn health outcomes. We interviewed 2572 women from two rural districts in Bangladesh who had a live birth in the preceding six...
Background/Objectives: Emerging evidence suggests that multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) provide additional benefits for maternal and neonatal health compared with iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements. To achieve effective coverage, acceptabi...
Shifts in the maternal gut microbiome and vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy have been associated, separately, with health problems for both the mother and the child. Yet, they have rarely been studied simultaneously. Here, we analyzed the gut mic...
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a very common condition among pregnant women worldwide with important metabolic implications on the mother and the offspring. Vitamin D status has been suggested to potentially play a role in GDM risk with no do...
The World Health Organization recommends the use of balanced energy protein (BEP) supplements during pregnancy in settings with a ≥ 20% prevalence of underweight women of reproductive age to reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes. Sever...
Despite declining malaria transmission, maternal anaemia and low birthweight (LBW) remain high in Ghana, suggesting that non-malarial determinants now dominate these outcomes. A cohort of 5197 pregnant women was enrolled at eight health facilities ac...
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of antenatal iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation on child stunting in Nepalese children age <2 years. A retrospective cohort study design was used, in which a pooled cohort of 5235 most recent l...
The aim of this study was to explore maternity care providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the use of calcium supplements during pregnancy for the prevention of preeclampsia in three hospitals from Metropolitan Buenos Aires, Arg...
Anemia in pregnancy, which is a public health concern for most developing countries, is predominantly caused by iron deficiency. At least, 180 days of iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation is recommended for pregnant women to mitigate anemia and...
The majority of research on linear growth among children is confined to South Asia and focuses on iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation during pregnancy, without considering malaria prophylaxis. Similarly, there is limited evidence on the associa...
Vitamin D is essential for human health. However, it is not clear if vitamin D supplementation is necessary for all pregnant women. This study examines the relative importance of dietary patterns and vitamin D supplementation frequency in determining...
Optimal nutrition plays a crucial role in pregnancy. Maternal malnutrition is a risk factor for maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications and is more prevalent in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review aims to study the effectiveness...
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in pregnant women and has been related to a higher risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The aim of this study is to analyze vitamin D status evolution in a population of pregnant women with and without...
Although Vietnam has achieved significant improvements in maternal, newborn, and children’s health, outcomes for ethnic minorities living in remote mountainous areas continue to lag. Interventions that leverage the extensive mobile networks in...
Background and objectives: During pregnancy, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) requirements increase in order to supply the needs of the growing and developing fetus. Furthermore, the risk of developing depressive symptoms increases during the pe...
Periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation is recommended to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs), but little information is known about its use in Vietnam. It is important that FA supplements start to be taken when planning a pregnancy and conti...
Iron and vitamin D deficiencies are common during pregnancy. Our aim was to identify whether antenatal vitamin D3 supplementation affects iron status (via hepcidin suppression) and/or inflammation. Using a subset of the UK multicenter Maternal Vitami...
Background. The German maternity guidelines require regular medical checkup (MC) during pregnancy as a measure of prevention. Socioeconomic factors such as education, profession, income and origin, but also age and parity may influence the preventive...
The aim was to investigate, among pregnant women, (1) the use of food supplements and (2) the awareness of food supplement recommendations and beliefs about food supplement use in four European countries: Finland, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdo...
Iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy is a common public health problem that negatively affects maternal and newborn health. This study aims to identify the rate of maternal compliance with the recommended iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation...
Background and Objectives: In pre-eclampsia, restricted blood supply due to the lack of trophoblastic cell invasion and spiral artery remodeling is responsible for adverse pregnancies and maternal outcomes, which is added to by maternal undernutritio...
Vitamin D is critical to children’s skeletal development and health. Despite this, the factors which determine vitamin D concentrations during infancy remain incompletely understood. This article reviews the literature assessing the factors which can...
Background: The United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation of a multiple micronutrient supplement (UNIMMAP MMS or MMS) is replacing iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) in antenatal care (ANC) in low- and middle-i...
Adequate nutrition and healthy behaviours during pregnancy are essential to maternal and neonatal health. Evidence from Greece on maternal dietary and lifestyle practices remains limited, despite global guidelines promoting supplementation, physical...
Depression is a common mood disorder associated with childbirth and is hypothesized to be affected by low vitamin D. This systematic review identified two randomized controlled trials (RCT) of vitamin D supplementation for the treatment or prevention...
1 August 2019
At present, there is insufficient evidence on whether prenatal multi-micronutrient (MM) supplementation can be an antenatal nutritional intervention or not. This study aimed to explore the sustained effect of prenatal MM supplementation on early chil...
Background: Very preterm birth often results in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with an inverse correlation of gestational age and birthweight. This very preterm population is especially exposed to interventions, which affect the...
Infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) develops among premature infants due to structural immaturity of the lungs and insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant. Nowadays, treatment takes place under conditions of intensive care and include...
Folate, vitamin D and iodine are key micronutrients in pregnancy, with deficiency associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes. For folate and vitamin D especially, deficiency is more common amongst women with obesity and recommended intakes and...
The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) nutrition checklist is a tool for everyday antenatal clinical practice, easy to use by most healthcare professionals, aiming to initiate a conversation regarding gestational weight gain...
23 June 2016
Malaria and iron-deficient anemia during pregnancy pose considerable risks for the mother and newborn. Intermittent Preventive Treatment during pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) and iron supplement to prevent anemia to all pregnant...
Introduction: Adequate maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy is essential for fetal skeletal development and neonatal vitamin D reserves. Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe on maternal deficiency, its determinants, and supplementation effe...
Almost two billion people are deficient in key vitamins and minerals, mostly women and children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Deficiencies worsen during pregnancy due to increased energy and nutritional demands, causing adverse outcome...
Mucolipidosis type II (ML II) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal targeting disorder that may present with features of hyperparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to describe in detail the clinical cases of ML II presenting to a tertiary referral...
Background/Objectives: There is clear evidence that maternal micronutrient deficiencies result in adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes. Therefore, corrective supplementation should be considered when dietary intake is insufficient, particularly...
14 August 2025
Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and is particularly prevalent among socially disadvantaged female populations. This quantitative, cross-sectional study aimed to explore the prevalence of preterm birth in three se...
Pregnancy is one of the more important periods in life when increased micronutrients, and macronutrients are most needed by the body; both for the health and well-being of the mother and for the growing foetus and newborn child. This brief review aim...
26 February 2022
Despite the availability of iron supplements during pregnancy for all pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Saudi Arabia, anemia remains to be a global public health concern leading to adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. We aimed to e...
Breastfeeding rates are low in the UK, where approximately one quarter of infants receive a breastmilk substitute (BMS) in the first week of life. We investigated the reasons for early BMS use in two large maternity units in the UK, in order to under...
19 June 2025
Background: Adherence to iron supplementation is influenced by systemic barriers, including poor healthcare infrastructure, shortage of healthcare providers, and limited access to antenatal care (ANC) services. These challenges are more pronounced in...
Background: Iron–Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) is an effective strategy to prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. We aimed to explore the key factors associated with compliance to IFA tablets in Bangladesh. Methods: This study ana...
Early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with prolonged fetoplacental hypoxia and altered brain development, including deficits in hippocampal structure and function. Neuroprotective actions of lactoferrin have been described, mediate...
Background/Objectives: Maternal rectovaginal carriage of Group B Streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae) is a major risk factor for vertical transmission and early-onset neonatal infection. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis reduces early-onset...
Anemia in pregnancy is one of the causes of maternal morbidity and, maternal and fetal mortality in India. Hemoglobin transports oxygen to different parts of the body. Any defect in hemoglobin structure leads to its adverse functions. Screening of pr...
An early antenatal dietary intervention could play an important role in the prevention of metabolic diseases postpartum. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether an early, specific dietary intervention reduces women’s cardiovascular risk in...
Anaemia in pregnancy is a global problem of significance in all settings. The most common cause is iron deficiency. Large numbers of women are affected, ranging up to 25–30% antenatally and 20–40% postnatally. It is associated with seriou...
Background: The mitigation of existing disparities in human milk intake is a shared responsibility. Health systems have emphasized antenatal decision making to increase the proportion of infants that receive Exclusive Human Milk (EHM). However, our r...
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