ABSTRACT
The metabolism of certain vitamins is therefore affected during pregnancy to ensure their proper availability to the fetus. This chapter reviews the main changes in carbohydrate, amino acid, lipid, and vitamin metabolisms that take place throughout pregnancy under normal conditions. An increased contribution of carbohydrate to oxidative metabolism occurs in late pregnancy, which is commensurate with the increased rate of glucose production. The accretion of protein is essential for fetal growth and must be sustained by the active transfer of amino acids from maternal circulation. Adipose tissue secretes several specific proteins called adipocytokines that play critical roles in energy homeostasis in adults, and some of them also modulate insulin action in different tissues. Maternal metabolic adaptations during pregnancy are mainly directed toward maintaining a continuous availability of substrates to enable fetal growth. Major changes also occur in vitamin metabolism. Vitamins A and E are the most affected.
