[Importance of proper nutrition before and during pregnancy]

Maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy may influence the course of the pregnancy, foetal development and the child's health in its early and also adult life. Maternal underweight before pregnancy (BMI<19.8 kg/m2) and low pregnancy weight gain may increase the risk of low infant birth weight. There is accumulating evidence that persons who were born with low body mass are more susceptible to insulin-independent diabetes, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and ischaemic heart disease, than those whose birth weight was normal. Recommendations concerning pregnancy weight gain are discussed. Folic acid deficiency during the periconceptional period may cause neural tube defects in the offspring. Full cover of folic acid requirement is necessary. This may be achieved only by diet supplementation or food fortification. Recommendations concerning folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period are discussed. Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy may also contribute to the preterm delivery and low infant birth weight. The importance of antioxidant vitamins in the prevention of pregnancy hypertension and the consequences of vitamin A overdosage are discussed. Protective calcium activity against pregnancy hypertension and preterm delivery, the importance of maternal iron supplementation in the prevention of low infant birth weight, and also the problem of maternal zinc deficiency which increases the risk of the low infant birth weight, preterm delivery, malformations, post-term delivery and pregnancy hypertension were discussed as well as the consequences of deficiency of the iodine and n-3 fatty acids in the diet.