Maternal malnutrition continues to be a major contributor to adverse reproductive outcomes in developing countries, despite longstanding efforts to fortify foods or to distribute medicinal supplements to pregnant women. The objective of this study was to test the effect of a micronutrient-fortified beverage containing 11 micronutrients (iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, riboflav...

The influence of coffee consumption on hematological and trace element status was studied in two groups of pregnant, low-income Costa Rican women: coffee drinkers (greater than or equal to 450 mL/d, n = 22) and coffee nondrinkers (0 mL/d, n = 26). Groups had similar income, education, prenatal care, age, parity, weight, height, pregnancy weight gain, prenatal iron supplementation, energy, prote...

BACKGROUND The relationship between maternal hemoglobin (Hb) levels during pregnancy and birth outcomes has been controversial. Changes in Hb level during pregnancy may have an impact on birth outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether changes in Hb levels from early to mid- or late pregnancy is associated with birth outcomes. METHODS Participants were singleton mothers who delivered a...

Children, especially infants, are highly vulnerable to iron-deficiency anemia because of their rapid growth of the brain and the rest of the body. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in infants born from HIV-positive mothers and HIV-negative mothers and to identify the determinants of iron-deficiency anemia in infants.A comparative cross-section...

Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin protein red cells that carries oxygen. The results large numbers being destroyed, leads to anemia. This alpha- beta-chain ratio causes unpaired chains precipitate and destruction cell precursors bone marrow (ineffective erythropoiesis) ...

We present here 2 cases of acute and 2 cases of chronic massive fetomaternal hemorrhage. A sinusoidal fetal heart rate pattern may indicate chronic fetomaternal hemorrhage, but, when increased variability is observed in fetal monitoring, maternal hemoglobin F should be measured to exclude acute fetomaternal hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is the most prevalent anemia in infants and is known to be a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE To examine mothers' knowledge and adherence with recommendations regarding iron supplementation and assess their association with the prevalence of anemia in infants. METHODS Data on 101 infants and mothers of infants born between November 2000 and February 2001 and...

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to assess the status of oxidative stress in term small for gestational age (SGA) newborn infants born to undernourished mothers by estimating levels of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in cord blood and comparing them to healthy appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls. This wa...