Micronutrient regulation in pregnant and lactating wome from Rio de Janeiro / Regulación de micrnutrientes en embarazadas y mujeres lactantes de Río Janeiro

RESUMO

Studies with low-income pregnant and lactating women from the city of Rio de Janeiro, conceened mainly with the changes in micronutrient homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation in the absence of overt clinical deficiencies, are reported. These studies focused on folate, cobalamin, iron, zinc and vitamin A. Factors that may effect the maternal micronutrient state, such as dietary intakes, use of supplements and interrelationships of micronutrients have been considered, as well as the implications of changes for maternal-fetal transfer and milk composition. Although these studies were not designed to evaluate the prevalence of sub-clinical micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant and women, they indicate that high frequencies of sub-clinical deficiencies of folate, iron, zinc and vitamin A, especially in pregnant women, are expected to be found in Rio de Janeiro