Minerals in pregnancy and newborns

Abstract Pregnant women are at risk of developing trace elements deficiency. This is attributed to deficient dietary sources, physiological changes during pregnancy, and genetic factors. Adequate trace elements are essential for the health of the mother and her fetus. Many deleterious effects are associated with trace elements deficiency, which can be extended even after delivery and contribute to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Trace elements deficiency can lead to congenital malformations, e.g., neural tube defects, aortic aneurysm, and valvular lesions. Clinical trials demonstrated that supplementation of trace elements has beneficial effects. This chapter highlights the molecular mechanism by which select trace elements are implicated in the pathogenicity of selected clinical conditions such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, low birth weight, and teratogenicity.