THE EFFECT OF TRACE ELEMENTS ON PREGNANCY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

During pregnancy, women undergo metabolic and physiological changes, and their needs are higher to support fetal growth and development. If the nutritional status of the expectant mother is unsatisfactory, some complications may occur for the mother and the newborn. In the second and third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus has a supply of nutrients that can be used after birth; thus, children in the first years of life experience accelerated growth, which is a proven response to an affordable diet. However, if such a scheme is not enough, there will be various disorders during development, including impaired brain function. Thus, despite many recently published papers on gestational nutrition, the mechanisms of absorption, distribution, and excretion of micronutrients are still unclear. Further clarification is needed to better understand the effects caused by a deficiency or excess of certain micronutrients. Thus, to illustrate the contribution of minerals during prenatal development and in children, iodine, selenium, iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium were selected. Our study aimed to investigate the consequences associated with gestational deficiency of these minerals and their impact on the growth and development of children born to mothers with such deficiency.