Author affiliations * Corresponding authors a Scientific Society for
Vegetarian Nutrition, Venice, Italy b Department of General Medicine, Humanitas San Pio X, Milan, Italy c Department of Clinical Specialistic and Odontostomatological Sciences, University Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy d Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia e International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China While
interest in vegetarian nutrition has been steadily increasing, some aspects have not yet been consistently investigated. One topic requiring evidence-based confirmation is the adoption of a vegetarian diet during pregnancy and lactation. Maternal diet is not only correlated with the fetus's and infant's health, but appears relevant for that of the mother as well. Not only is an adequate delivery of nutrients to the fetus and infant mandatory, but the increased physiological needs of the maternal
body require an adequate supply of nutrients and can represent harmful stress events that may lead to well-defined pathological conditions. In this review, we aim to systematically investigate state-of-the-art of vegetarian diets during pregnancy and lactation, focusing on maternal nutritional status and pregnancy outcomes. Data are scarce, often inconsistent and not homogeneous for many of the topics we considered, mainly because only a few studies have been performed in developed countries,
whereas other studies have derived from developing countries, where vegetarianism can be a proxy indicator of malnutrition. For this reason, we did not find sufficient data to provide evidence-based information and recommendations. To date, the available literature does not clearly support a negative impact on the mother's health and pregnancy outcomes, but, analogously with the findings in the vegetarian adult population, an improvement in the quality of studies might facilitate finding more
information on the possible positive impact of well-planned vegetarian diets during pregnancy and lactation. More epidemiological and interventional studies are warranted, in order to address the question as to whether vegetarian nutrition represents an advantage for the mother or poses nutritional issues that need further attention.
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DOI
//doi.org/10.1039/D0FO01991GArticle type
Submitted
29 Jul 2020Accepted
12 Nov 2020First published
13 Nov 2020Download Citation
Food Funct., 2021,12, 466-493
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Vegetarian diets during pregnancy: effects on the mother's health. A systematic review
L. Baroni, G. Rizzo, S. Goggi, F. Giampieri and M. Battino, Food Funct., 2021, 12, 466 DOI: 10.1039/D0FO01991G
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A vegan diet has been shown to offer a number of health benefits. In general, plant-based diets are associated with lower risks of heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Eating a variety of plants and avoiding high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol — both of which are found in many animal products — can be good for you. But is it good if you're
pregnant? There are some nutrients that are essential during pregnancy that are harder to get from plant sources. However, a well-planned vegan diet can provide everything you need during all stages of your life, including when you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Additionally, a diet containing a lot of fruits and vegetables may help protect you from some pregnancy complications, such as
preeclampsia (high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes. A plant-based diet during pregnancy may also reduce your baby's risk of certain childhood diseases such as asthma, eczema, diabetes, and even some cancers. If you're
worried that you may not be getting all of the nutrients you need from your diet, you may want to consult with a dietician who can make sure you're getting all of the essential nutrients you need during pregnancy. A vegan diet can offer benefits to both you and your baby, including: Reduced risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication
associated with high blood pressure and organ damage. A review of the medical records of 775 health-conscious vegan mothers who received good prenatal care and supplemented their diets with vitamins found that only one developed preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is often associated with rapid weight gain and eating foods high in saturated fat. A healthy vegan diet may protect against developing preeclampsia. Reduced risk of gestational diabetes. Vegan diets that are high in fiber
— including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — and low in saturated fat may reduce the risk of excessive weight gain and gestational diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, a vegan diet may reduce your chances of having a C-section. It may also reduce your need for insulin. Reduced risk of some neural tube defects and brain tumors. Neural tube defects, which are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord, have been associated with a high nitrate intake
during pregnancy. Since cured meat and smoked fish are the main sources of nitrates in most diets, vegan diets reduce this risk. Benefits of a Vegan Diet During Pregnancy
A vegan diet during pregnancy needs to be healthy, diverse, and well-planned. If not, it will likely lack essential nutrients. Vegan diets that lack in nutrients such as protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, DHA, and iron increase the
risk that your baby may have low birth weight or birth defects. Vegan diets need to include the following, especially if you're pregnant: Follow these guidelines to make sure that your vegan diet is healthy and will meet all your nutritional needs during pregnancy: Eat a variety of foods. Make sure most of the food you eat is minimally processed. Include a lot of different vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Limit vegetable fats. Choose vegetable fats carefully, making sure to get plenty of omega-3 fats. Limit
trans fats and tropical oils such as coconut, palm, and palm kernel oil. Get enough calcium and vitamin D. Eat a lot of plants that are high in calcium. No diet can provide vitamin D, so make sure your levels are adequate. Supplement Vitamin B-12. Since Vitamin B-12 comes primarily from animal sources, you will need to supplement it regularly. Risks of a Vegan Diet During Pregnancy
Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet