Macronutrient and Micronutrient Intake during Pregnancy: An Overview of Recent Evidence.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of calcium supplementation in preventing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly in high-risk women or those with low dietary calcium intake.
Results Summary
The study found that calcium supplementation is effective in preventing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, especially in high-risk women or those with low dietary calcium intake. Newly published studies support its use for this purpose.
Population
Pregnant women, particularly those at high risk for hypertensive disorders or with low dietary calcium intake.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy restriction | decrease | gestational weight gain | women with obesity | - | can limit | #1 |
balanced energy/protein supplementation | increase | birthweight | undernourished women | - | may increase | #2 |
high protein supplementation | decrease | foetal growth | undernourished women | - | could have adverse effects on | #3 |
Modulating carbohydrate intake via a reduced glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet | decrease | gestational diabetes | - | - | may prevent | #4 |
Modulating carbohydrate intake via a reduced glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet | decrease | large-for-gestational-age infants | - | - | may prevent | #5 |
folic acid | decrease | neural tube defects | - | - | to prevent | #6 |
iodine | decrease | cretinism | - | - | to prevent | #7 |
calcium supplementation | decrease | hypertensive disorders of pregnancy | women at high risk or with low dietary calcium intake | - | to prevent | #8 |
Nutritional status during pregnancy can have a significant impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Requirements for macronutrients such as energy and protein increase during pregnancy to maintain maternal homeostasis while supporting foetal growth. Energy restriction can limit gestational weight gain in women with obesity; however, there is insufficient evidence to support energy restriction during pregnancy. In undernourished women, balanced energy/protein supplementation may increase birthweight whereas high protein supplementation could have adverse effects on foetal growth. Modulating carbohydrate intake via a reduced glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet may prevent gestational diabetes and large-for-gestational-age infants. Certain micronutrients are also vital for improving pregnancy outcomes, including folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and iodine to prevent cretinism. Newly published studies support the use of calcium supplementation to prevent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly in women at high risk or with low dietary calcium intake. Although gaps in knowledge remain, research linking nutrition during pregnancy to maternofoetal outcomes has made dramatic advances over the last few years. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent evidence pertaining to macronutrient and micronutrient requirements during pregnancy, the risks and consequences of deficiencies and the effects of supplementation on pregnancy outcomes.