Studies in Central America and Panama.

Nutrition during pregnancy is recognized as of great importance in public health, not only for the woman herself, but also for the impact that it may have on the present and future of the born child. The pregnant state represents additional nutritional needs which have been estimated by expert groups, in a nutrient-independent manner. The percent increase in nutrient specific recommendations due to pregnancy varies with each nutrient. This would mean that the recommended dietary "pattern" for the pregnant women differs markedly from that of the non-pregnant woman, but this matter needs further study and careful consideration. In areas like Central America and Panama, where malnutrition is prevalent, pregnant women suffer from the same nutritional deficits as the general population. The main nutritional deficits are calories, protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, iron and folates. In some instances like in the case of iron and calories, the deficit seems greater in the pregnant women than in the population at large. The studies give evidence that the new born children of malnourished mothers reflect in some aspects the biochemical changes found in the pregnant women.