Role of micronutrients in the periconceptional period

Unhealthy preconceptional diet and lifestyle significantly contribute to impaired reproduction. In particular, micronutrient deficiencies have been associated with significantly high reproductive risks, ranging from infertility to fetal structural defects and long-term diseases. On the other side, healthy dietary patterns and micronutrient supplementation during the periconceptional period are related to improved birth outcome, probably through alterations in maternal and fetal metabolism due to micronutrients role/involvement in enzymes, signal transduction, transcription pathways, oxidative stress and epigenetic modifications. The periconceptional period is a wide concept that encompasses preconception, conception, implantation, placentation and embryogenesis, all of which may be affected by maternal nutrition and, specifically, by micronutrient imbalances. However, up to now conclusive evidence has been provided solely for periconceptional folate supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects.