Hydatidiform mole: a vascular congenital anomaly.

The thesis is advanced that a critical time for development of embryonic blood vessels in the placenta is 13 to 21 days after conception, especially during days 18 to 21. Dietary requirements at this time are specific and demanding for nutritional precursors of thymidine which is an important constituent of DNA. Folic acid and histidine are specifically essential for thymidine synthesis. These are reviewed with respect to cultures and socioeconomon levels in societies where occurrence of hydatidiform mole is endemic. Specific nutritional deficiencies are discussed in relation to kinds of diets and ways of food preparation. When specific dietary requirements are lacking at a time of high need, embryo death, abnormality, and/or avascularity of trophoblastic placental villi may be the earliest pathogenic signs of hydatidiform mole.