Micronutrient formulations for prevention of complications of pregnancy.

According to a relatively recent UNICEF report, 15 percent of the infant population of the world is of low birth weight with India accounting for one third of all the world's low-weight newborns. Twenty percent of all low birth weight infants die within a month. This mortality figure is higher in developing countries due to inadequate nutritional intake by pregnant women. Development of a new package of nutrient-rich food based on egg or milk or soy bean proteins, containing multiple micronutrient supplements, available at affordable cost, may protect against morbidity and mortality among pregnant women as well as low birth weight in newborns. These benefits may continue to decrease morbidity and mortality during infancy and childhood and might reduce the risk of chronic diseases in later adult life.