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In the News, Winter 2023-24: Many Expectant Mothers Lack Vital Nutrients
Researchers from the University of Southampton assessed vitamin levels in 1,729 expectant mothers from high-income countries – including the UK, New Zealand, and Singapore—and found that a vast majority lacked one or more essential nutrients that are required for healthy pregnancies. Their results, published in PLOS Medicine, showed that 90% of the women had marginal or low levels of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and/or vitamin D during preconception and pregnancy, and many developed vitamin B6 insufficiency late in their pregnancies.
The researchers predicted that the situation is going to get worse as plant-based diets gain in popularity and more people decrease their intake of the critical nutrients that are abundant in milk and dairy products. However, they found that over-the-counter preconception and pregnancy supplements were able to reduce vitamin insufficiencies. They suggest a need to “reappraise dietary recommendations for preconception and pregnancy and to consider further the role of multiple micronutrient supplements.”
Sources:
Pregnant women are missing vital nutrients needed for them and their babies – and situation could worsen with plant-based foods. University of Southampton, December 6, 2023. southampton.ac.uk/news/2023/12/pregnant-women-missing-vital-nutrients-needed-for-them-and-their-babies.page.
Godfrey KM, Titcombe P, El-Heis S, et al. Maternal B-vitamin and vitamin D status before, during, and after pregnancy and the influence of supplementation preconception and during pregnancy. PLOS Medicine. 2023;20(12):e1004260. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1004260.
Published in the Journal of Health and Healing™
Winter 2023-24 | Volume 47, Number 4
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