Nutritional deficiencies in pregnancy.
In a survey with biochemical supply parameters, approximately 2,000 pregnant women from 11 regions of the FRG in different stages of pregnancy were investigated. The results were compared with the values from 250 to 300 female blood donors and with the values from pregnant women with normally dosed vitamin supplements. Borderline values to 'critical ranges' of supply were established from this material as 2.5 percentiles of corrected distributions. The results show higher concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins-carotenoids, tocopherols, and, in a small proportion (ca 12%), retinal - in the later stages of pregnancy. In the 1st trimester the percentages of values falling into the critical range are significantly increased for thiamine and vitamin B6, but not for vitamin A, riboflavin, and vitamin C. In the 3rd trimester an additionally greater number of women not sufficiently supplied could be found for vitamin A; the percentages of values for thiamine and vitamin B6 in the critical range were found to be significantly higher. For iron and folacin, likewise known to be critical nutrients in pregnancy, no supply parameters can be presented at the present time from our investigations. The correlations of pregnancy courses and birth weights with low supply parameters of the mothers were studied in a preliminary statistical analysis of 800 pregnancies, taking into consideration other influencing factors, such as age, parity, socioeconomic status, and luxury food consumption. There are indications of influences during pregnancy such as low supply of thiamine in the 1st trimester and with vitamin A and vitamin B6 in the last trimester on the birth weights. High correlations were found between elevated plasma retinol levels and low birth weights.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014815:Vitamins