Essential fatty acids in maternal and infant nutrition.

Introduction In many developing countries of the world and more especially in the countries of South Asia, the major nutritional problems that are now being encountered on a public-health scale are those related to mothers and infants. Maternal mortality rates in these countries range from 140 to 540; almost a third of infants are of low birth weight «2.5 kg) and over 50% of under-fives are "stunted"l. The latest National Family Health Surveys data shows a maternal mortality rate of 540 in India. Thus, more than 100,000 women in India die each year due to pregnancy related causes . Low birth weight is multifactorial in its causation. Factors such as low energy intake, low weight gain in pregnancy, low pregnancy weight, short maternal stature, anaemia, infections and smoking have all been identified as poss ible factors. The studies of Barker et al. have revealed disturbing long-term implications of intra-uterine growth retardation and low birth weight namely predi sposition to chronic degenerati ve di seases in adulthood. Retardation of growth and development at the intrauterine stage and in early infancy are perhaps the most urgent public health nutntlon problems confronting many developing countries today. Household diets of poor communities in these developing countries are deficient in a wide range of nutrients and stand in need of overall improvement. That good maternal nutrition status at the preconceptional and post-conceptional stages, is important for maternal health, and foetal development, is now well recognised. However, preci se information as to the crucial nutrients involved in ensuring optimal nutntlon in pregnancy, lactation and in infant/child development could provide practical leads to public-health agencies as to the specific directions in which dietary improvement