Date of Award
5-1998
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Departmental Honors
Department
Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences
Abstract
Maternal diet and nutritional status have a direct impact on pregnancy course and outcome. Nutrition is critical to the development of the human embryo and fetus. Each year in the United States, approximately 4000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects (NTD). The most important finding in recent years has been the relationship between maternal folic acid status and NTDs. Other studies have found an association between zinc deficiency and an increased risk for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. Furthermore, some of the latest research has linked maternal obesity with the development of NTDs. The cumulative data from several studies have clearly indicated enormous savings in direct medical costs associated with the prevention of NTDs. Improving the nutritional status of women of childbearing age can help to prevent NTDs, resulting in substantial savings.
Recommended Citation
Gardner, Shannon Michelle, "The Maternal Diet Can Prevent Neural Tube Defects" (1998). Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects. 883.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors/883
Included in
Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .
Faculty Mentor
Noreen B. Schvaneveldt