Perinatal nutritional supplementation: an opportunity to improve both pregnancy outcomes as well as longer term health

Key messages:

• Malnutrition, including both under- and overnutrition, is associated with deficiencies in critical micronutrients and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child.
• The increased micronutrient requirements during pregnancy and lactation are driven by distinct needs due to the physiological adaptations to pregnancy and the growth and development of the placenta and the fetus.
• Supplementation strategies require adaptation to the nutritional reality of the population and can improve nutrition status, adequate gestational weight gain, and reduce the incidence of adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth.