ABSTRACT
Consensus exists that maternal nutrition influences fetal growth and development. This effect is based on epidemiological surveys, food supplementation trials, and animal/human investigations (l,2). The birth weight of an infant relative to gestational age is considered to be a strong predictor of infant morbidity and mortality (3-5). Despite the significant impact that nutrition has in maternal/fetal health, the complex physiological relationship between the pregnant woman, the fetus, and the placenta renders determination of nutritional requirements during pregnancy difficult. It is now clear that the fetal-maternal relationship is completely parasitic. The malnourished mother does not adapt in order to maintain fetal growth, but instead favors maintenance of her own body's store of nutrients (6).
