New Research Suggests That Following A Vegan Diet During Pregnancy Is Linked To A Higher Risk of Preeclampsia And Lower Baby Birth Weights
A new study suggests that pregnant women who eat a vegan diet might face increased health risks for themselves and their babies.
Recent research conducted by scientists in Denmark indicates that vegan mothers have a higher likelihood of experiencing preeclampsia and their babies being born with lower birth weights.
The rise of veganism has become a notable trend in Western cultures in recent years, fueled by concerns for the environment, ethics, and animal welfare.
So, what was once considered a niche lifestyle choice has now become an integral aspect of our dietary habits.
For example, in Denmark, the percentage of vegans has increased from less than 1% in 2010 to approximately 3% in 2022, with a significant uptick among young adults and pregnant women. However, this dietary change raises questions about its impact on pregnancy outcomes.
Over 91,000 women were involved in the Danish National Birth Cohort study, which helped shed some light on the issue.
The goal of the study was to investigate the nutritional makeup of different plant-based diets during pregnancy and their correlation with birth outcomes.
The study ran from 1996 to 2002 and involved 91,281 expectant mothers, accounting for about 35% of all Danish births in that timeframe.
The researchers conducted detailed interviews with each participant and examined their dietary habits through the extensive Food Frequency Questionnaire.
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The team also grouped women on plant-based diets into three categories: fish and poultry vegetarians, lacto/ovo-vegetarians, and vegans. Then, they compared these groups with mothers who followed an omnivorous diet, focusing on variations in birth weights, length of gestation, and pregnancy-related complications.
The study revealed that vegans, lacto/ovo-vegetarians, and fish and poultry vegetarians typically had lower intakes of energy and protein than omnivores but consumed more carbohydrates.
Interestingly, the nutrient levels for most groups, including vegans, were adequate when dietary supplements were considered, with the exception of vitamin D for vegans.
The study also found that vegan mothers tended to have babies with lower average birth weights and a higher rate of low birth weight compared to mothers who consumed meat.
However, there were no significant differences in birth outcomes between fish/poultry vegetarians, lacto/ovo-vegetarians, and omnivores, except for a marginally increased rate of anemia among the first two groups.
While all groups following plant-based diets had a low occurrence of gestational diabetes, vegan mothers showed a higher rate of preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy.
The results indicate that while the majority of plant-based diets seem to have no negative impact on pregnancy outcomes, strictly vegan diets may carry specific risks, especially concerning lower birth weights and a higher incidence of preeclampsia.
These risks might be linked to reduced protein consumption and possible nutritional shortfalls, even with supplementation.
However, it’s crucial to consider that the vegan group in this study was relatively small. Also, the dietary patterns of vegans from the late 1990s to the early 2000s may not fully represent the dietary habits of vegans today.
So, this comprehensive study offered valuable insights into the link between plant-based diets and outcomes in pregnancy, but further research is still needed to fine-tune dietary guidelines for pregnant women adhering to vegan diets.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica, visit the link here.
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