Pediatric and Maternal Nutrition: Foundations for Lifelong Health
About the Book
Paediatric and Maternal Nutrition: Foundations for Lifelong Health presents a comprehensive, evidence-based, and multidisciplinary exploration of how nutrition during critical stages of life shapes both immediate and long-term health outcomes. Grounded in the life-course approach, the book examines the developmental origins of health and disease, emphasizing how maternal and early childhood nutrition influence growth, development, and lifelong well-being.
The book begins with a strong foundation in human nutrition, covering macronutrients, micronutrients, energy balance, and dietary guidelines, with particular focus on maternal and paediatric requirements. It systematically explores the interrelationship between nutrition, fertility, preconception health, pregnancy adaptations, and lactation physiology, highlighting the critical role of maternal diet in determining breast milk composition and infant health outcomes.
A key strength of this work is its life-cycle perspective, addressing nutrition from preconception through pregnancy, lactation, infancy, and early childhood. It integrates clinical insights on maternal anaemia, protein-energy malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and other common nutritional disorders, while also proposing evidence-based strategies to break intergenerational cycles of malnutrition.
The book places strong emphasis on the Indian context, incorporating national data sources such as ICMR, NIN, NFHS-5, and POSHAN Abhiyaan. It examines regional dietary practices, cultural influences, and public health challenges, offering context-specific solutions for improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes across diverse populations.
Advanced sections explore emerging innovations in nutrition science, including nutrigenomics, personalized nutrition, artificial intelligence-driven assessment tools, digital health platforms, and data-driven monitoring systems. The integration of technology, policy frameworks, and real-world applications equips readers with practical tools for designing, implementing, and evaluating nutrition interventions at both clinical and public health levels.
By combining scientific evidence, policy perspectives, and practical applications, the book serves as both a comprehensive academic resource and a practical guide for improving maternal and child health. It aims to support the development of sustainable, equitable, and future-ready nutrition systems.
Key Features
- Comprehensive life-cycle approach to maternal and paediatric nutrition
- Integration of biological, clinical, and public health perspectives
- Detailed coverage of preconception, pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood nutrition
- Focus on Indian health data, policies, and culturally relevant dietary practices
- Evidence-based strategies to address malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies
- Inclusion of digital health, artificial intelligence, and nutrition monitoring technologies
- Policy-oriented discussion including POSHAN Abhiyaan and national nutrition programs
Target Audience
This book is intended for medical students, nursing professionals, public health practitioners, nutritionists, researchers, academicians, and policymakers. It is particularly valuable for those working toward improving maternal and child health outcomes and addressing malnutrition in developing and emerging economies.
Keywords
Keywords: Maternal Nutrition, Paediatric Nutrition, Life-Course Approach, Malnutrition, Breastfeeding, Pregnancy Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Nutrigenomics, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Artificial Intelligence in Nutrition, Child Health, India Nutrition Policy
Contents
| Chapter | Title | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Foundations of Plant Genetics | 11 |
| 1.1 | Introduction to Plant Genetics | 12 |
| 1.2 | Historical Milestones in Genetic Discovery | 14 |
| 1.3 | Mendelian Principles and Laws of Inheritance | 18 |
| 1.4 | Chromosomal Basis of Heredity | 22 |
| 1.5 | Genetic Variation and Mutation in Plants | 28 |
| 1.6 | Significance of Genetics in Modern Agriculture | 31 |
| Chapter Summary | 39 | |
| Chapter 2 | Molecular Structure and Function of Genes | 57 |
| 2.1 | Structure and Composition of DNA and RNA | 42 |
| 2.2 | Gene Organization in Plant Genomes | 46 |
| 2.3 | DNA Replication, Transcription, and Translation | 52 |
| 2.4 | Gene Expression and Regulation in Plants | 60 |
| 2.5 | Mutation Mechanisms and DNA Repair | 69 |
| 2.6 | Molecular Markers and Genetic Polymorphism | 73 |
| Summary | 80 | |
| Chapter 3 | Genetic Mapping and Molecular Tools | 123 |
| 3.1 | Principles of Linkage and Recombination | 83 |
| 3.2 | Genetic Mapping Techniques | 85 |
| 3.3 | Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Mapping | 89 |
| 3.4 | Molecular Marker Systems: RFLP, AFLP, SSR, SNP | 92 |
| 3.5 | Marker-Assisted Selection and Genomic Selection | 96 |
| 3.6 | Applications in Crop Breeding and Diversity Analysis | 100 |
| Summary | 106 | |
| Chapter 4 | Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Epigenetics | 165 |
| 4.1 | Plant Genome Sequencing and Annotation | 109 |
| 4.2 | Comparative and Functional Genomics | 110 |
| 4.3 | Transcriptomics and Gene Expression Profiling | 112 |
| 4.4 | Epigenetic Mechanisms: DNA Methylation and Histone Modifications | 113 |
| 4.5 | Non-Coding RNAs and Gene Regulation | 115 |
| 4.6 | Systems Biology Approaches in Plant Genetics | 117 |
| Summary | 118 | |
| Chapter 5 | Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Advances | 120 |
| 5.1 | Recombinant DNA Technology in Plants | 121 |
| 5.2 | Gene Cloning and Transformation Methods | 121 |
| 5.3 | Genome Editing Tools: CRISPR, TALENs, and ZFNs | 123 |
| 5.4 | Development of Transgenic and Gene-Edited Crops | 124 |
| 5.5 | Molecular Breeding and Trait Improvement | 126 |
| 5.6 | Ethical, Environmental, and Regulatory Considerations | 126 |
| Summary | 127 | |
| References | References & Bibliography | 128 |
Recommended Citation
APA 7th Edition