Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
08:45
Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
[Is micronutrients supplementation useful in pregnancy?]
V De Leo1, C Benedetto, A Cianci
1Istituto di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italia deleo@unisi.it.
Minerva Ginecologica
|October 16, 2008
Summary
Continuous micronutrient supplementation before and during pregnancy prevents pregnancy-related pathologies and supports healthy fetal development. Key nutrients like folic acid and vitamin A are crucial for preventing birth defects and maternal health.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Nutritional Science
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Context:
- Pregnancy requires optimal maternal nutrition for fetal development and to prevent complications.
- Micronutrient deficiencies can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes.
- Continuous supplementation is key for efficacy.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the role of continuous micronutrient supplementation in preventing pregnancy-related pathologies.
- To assess the impact of micronutrients on fetal growth and organ development.
- To highlight the benefits of specific vitamins like folic acid and vitamin A.
Summary:
- Continuous intake of micronutrients, including vitamins and mineral salts, before and throughout pregnancy is beneficial.
- Adequate micronutrient support ensures physiological fetal growth and organ development.
- Folic acid prevents neural tube defects, while vitamin A supports maternal health and may slow uterine fibroid growth.
Impact:
- Improved maternal health outcomes during pregnancy.
- Reduced incidence of pregnancy-related pathologies.
- Enhanced fetal development and prevention of congenital anomalies.
- Potential therapeutic role in managing uterine fibroids.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the atmosphere, the...
01:27Mineral, Vitamin and Water Absorption
Electrolytes are essential minerals and ions primarily obtained from the diet and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Most electrolytes are absorbed in the small intestine. While the absorption of iron and calcium primarily occurs in the duodenum, calcium is also absorbed in the jejunum and ileum. In these regions, passive diffusion contributes to its absorption alongside active transport mechanisms in the duodenum. These ions can exit the enterocytes through specialized active...
01:26Minerals
Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...