Maternal nutrition and intrauterine growth retardation

Nutritional factors associated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) were studied in 118 mothers, from an inner London population, 24-48 h after delivery. Lower socio-economic status, smoking and, in the diet, only a low dietary intake of zinc were significantly associated with IUGR. It is suggested that women at risk of delivering babies small-for-gestational-age might benefit from an increased zinc intake.