MICRONUTRIENT REGULATION IN PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN FROM RIO-DE-JANEIRO

Studies with low-income pregnant and lactating women from the city of Rio de Janeiro, concerned mainly with the changes in micronutrient hom eostasis during pregnancy and lactation in the absence of overt clinic al deficiencies, are reported. These studies focused on folate, cobala min, iron, zinc and vitamin A. Factors that may affect the maternal mi cronutrient state, such as dietary intakes, use of supplements and int errelationships of micronutrients have been considered, as well as the implications of these changes for maternal-fetal transfer and milk co mposition. Although these studies were not designed to evaluate the pr evalence of sub-clinical micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant and la ctating women, they indicate that high frequencies of sub-clinical def iciencies of folate, iron, zinc and vitamin A, especially in pregnant women, are expected to be found in Rio de Janeiro.