Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Pregnancy outcome and the effect of maternal nutritional status

Rasha Abdel-Raoufabdel-Aziz Afifi1, Dina Kamal Ali, Hamdy M Talkhan

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University,

Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
|May 24, 2013
PubMed

To assess the prevalence of malnutrition among Egyptian pregnant women and its effect on the pregnancy outcome, a comparative cohort study in which a total of 206 normal pregnant and 197 babies born to the pregnant subjects were enrolled. The study was conducted in El Sahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Maternal anthropometry, blood parameters including hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and serum albumin were assessed. Patients were classified into 3 groups based on hemoglobin concentration. Pregnancy outcome was assessed by means of birth weight, length and Apgar score at birth. The mean Hb serum iron concentration, total iron binding capacity, and serum albumin were 10.332, 73.84, 382.74, & 3.846g/dl respectively; and 46% of the subjects were anemic. When subjects were classified into 3 groups based on the Hb levels, 16% fell into severe anemia category, while 30% of the subjects fell into mild anemia category. Statistically significant differences were found between each of maternal age & pre pregnancy BMI on one hand and the degree of anemia on the other hand. Comparisons between pregnancy outcomes in the three groups showed a statistically significant difference between gestational age, birth weight, birth length and Apgar score on one hand and the degree of anemia on the other hand. The incidence of preterm labor was much higher (65.6%) in the group of severe anemia than the other two groups.

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development 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,...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...