Nutrition Across the Woman's Life Cycle: Special Emphasis on Pregnancy

Abstract

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the maintenance of health of a woman throughout life, but assumes an even more important role during growth, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause. The nutrient reserves accumulated during other, nonstressful periods of life are of vital importance during these phases of physiological stress. Requirements for various nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals, and vitamins, throughout life are qualitatively similar; however, they change quantitatively with the rate and intensity of physiological processes taking place within the body. Pregnant and lactating women require more energy, protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins to meet their increased needs. Rapid growth during infancy, childhood, and adolescence also increases the requirements for essential nutrients. In the elderly female, it is important to decrease energy consumption as the basal metabolic rate declines. However, minerals and vitamins, particularly calcium, thiamine, and pyridoxine, continue to be as essential in the elderly population as in adult women.