Maternal Undernutrition Influences Placental Fetal Development

Fetal nutrition depends on three primary elements: maternal nutritional intake, nutrient availability in the maternal circulation, and placental ability to transport nutrients from the maternal circulation to the fetal circulation. The first aspect, proper maternal nutrition, contributes to fetal growth and development. Hence, suboptimal maternal nutrition is one of the most significant contributing factors to intrauterine growth restriction. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) causes 50% of nonmalformed infant deaths. IUGR also impacts fetal propensity for genetic and metabolic disorders as well as chronic diseases later on in life.