Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Knihy

Nutrition of young women and its effect on offspring is an almost neglected topic in developed and developing countries alike. Under- as well as overnutrition of the mother can negatively program the child's health: Maternal undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are related to both low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation. Moreover, they also result in negative epigenetic programming both during conception and in the newborn. Obese mothers, on the other hand, may produce offspring with a lower life expectancy, a fact which could be related to the higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome in adult life. This book provides insights into the influence of maternal health and nutrition on both fetal and postnatal growth and health of the offspring. Contributions focus on future mothers from their adolescence to pregnancy, thus providing valuable information for the clinician involved in the care of adolescents and young women.

Meeting macro- and micronutrient requirements during pregnancy and early childhood is crucial for short- and long-term health and cognitive function. Meta-analyses confirm that supplementation or fortification of food with the 'big four' (vitamin A, iron, zinc, and iodine) is efficacious to reduce the risk of infectious disease and improves growth and cognitive outcome. More recently, folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies during pregnancy have been shown to be associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcome and childhood obesity. The papers collected in the book at hand address the fact that maternal and fetal deficiencies can induce inadequate metabolic programming in the offspring, with increased risk for non-communicable diseases later in life. World-renowned experts in the fields of epidemiology and nutritional intervention met with those in genetics, epigenetics, and metabolic outcome to clarify the pathogenesis of micronutrient deficiencies in pregnancy and childhood, preventive methods and strategies, and opportunities for treatment.