Studies Regarding Proper Nutrition For Pregnant Women


  1. Studies have shown that supplementing women of childbearing age with folic age can reduce incidence of infants born with neural tube defects, possibly by 50-70% and additional studies have also shown that low folate status is associated with other health risks such as low birth weight, cardiovascular disease, increased cancer risk and depression – “Knowledge and Clinical Practice Regarding Folic Acid Among Obstetrician and Gynecologists,” in Obstetrics and Gynecology v.95 issue 6 part 1 June 2000 p.895
  2. Insufficient Vitamin A intake resulted in lower living stores, low birth weights and a higher risk of further complications. The American Pediatric Association cites Vitamin A as one of the most critical vitamins during pregnancy and the breastfeeding period, especially in terms of lunch function and maturation – “The Importance of Beta-Carotene as a Source of Vitamin A with Special Regard to Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women,” in the European Journal of Nutrition 2007, supplement 1 v.46 issue 1 1-1/20
  3. A high-glycaemic diet during pregnancy leads to an increase in feto-placental growth rate and greater maternal weight gain than a low-glycaemic diet – “Maternal Carbohydrate Intake and Pregnancy Outcome,” in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society v.61 2000 p.45-50
  4. Iron deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of death from hemorrhage during delivery; folic acid deficiency can lead to hematological consequences, pregnancy complications and congenital malformations; zinc deficiency has been associated with complications of pregnancy and delivery, growth retardation, congenital abnormalities and retarded neurobehavioral and immunological development in the fetus; iodine deficiency during pregnancy results in cretinism, possible fetal wastage and preterm delivery. Vitamin A or Beta-Carotene during pregnancy reduced maternal mortality by 50% in a controlled study – “Micronutrients in Pregnancy,” from the British Journal of Nutrition v.85 2001 supplement 2 S193 - S197