Nutrition and maternal morbidity and mortality

Nearly 600 000 women die every year from pregnancy related conditions and the maternal mortality rates (MMR = deaths per 100 000 live births) in developing countries may be as high as 1000 compared with less than ten in industrialised countries. In the light of the striking impact of deficiencies of micronutrients such as vitamin A and zinc on immune function, morbidity and mortality in children it seems reasonable to suggest that such deficiencies might play a contributing role in the high rates of morbidity and mortality in mothers. Hitherto, there has been rather little published on the contribution of malnutrition to maternal morbidity or mortality but recent results of micronutrient supplementation show a major effect of vitamin A or beta carotene supplementation on maternal mortality in Nepal and an impressive effect of a multiple micronutrient mixture on pregnancy outcome in Tanzania. There is now data showing that subclinical mastitis, a potential risk factor for mother to child transmission of HIV by increasing levels of virus in breast milk, is influenced by maternal diet in Tanzania and feeding patterns in South Africa. Considering the massive tragedy of maternal mortality the recent data provides opportunities for new, innovative nutritional interventions for the reduction of the global burden of maternal morbidity and mortality.