Nutrition in pregnancy: mineral and vitamin supplements

Pregnancy is associated with physiologic changes that result in increased plasma volume and red blood cells and decreased concentrations of circulating nutrient-binding proteins and micronutrients. In many developing countries, these physiologic changes can be aggravated by undernutrition, leading to micronutrient deficiency states, such as anemia, that can have disastrous consequences for both mothers and newborn infants. Multiple micronutrients are often taken by pregnant women in developed countries, but their benefits are limited, except for prophylactic folic acid taken during the periconceptional period. Women in developing countries may benefit from multiple-micronutrient prophylaxis in pregnancy, but the underlying basis and rationale for changing from supplementation with iron and folate to supplementation with multiple micronutrients has not been debated in the context of existing program objectives. There is an urgent need for this discussion so that both program effectiveness and program efficacy can be improved.