Pregnant women lack essential nutrients, a situation that could be made worse with plant-based foods.

Pregnant women are not getting the essential nutrients they and their babies need in modern diets, say scientists, who have warned the situation is likely to get worse as more people turn to plant-based foods.

A study looking at the health of pregnant women from high-income countries, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Singapore, found that 90% of them were deficient in vitamins essential for a healthy pregnancy and pregnancy. well-being of unborn infants.

Scientists from the University of Southampton, working with experts from around the world, surveyed more than 1,700 women and found that most were lacking essential nutrients found in abundance in meat and dairy products.

These included vitamins B12, B6 and D, folic acid and riboflavin, which are essential for the development of the fetus in the womb.

Lead author and professor of epidemiology Keith Godfrey, from the University of Southampton, said the prevalence of vitamin deficiencies among women trying to become pregnant in wealthy countries is a major concern.

He added: “Efforts to reduce our reliance on meat and dairy to achieve net zero carbon emissions risk further depriving pregnant women of essential nutrients, which could have lasting effects on unborn children.

“Our study shows that almost all women trying to conceive had insufficient levels of one or more vitamins, and this figure will only get worse as the world moves toward a plant-based diet.

“People think that nutritional deficiencies only affect people in underdeveloped countries, but they also affect the majority of women living in high-income countries.”

The study, published in PLOS Medicineassessed 1,729 women aged 18 to 38 at the time of conception and followed many of them through subsequent pregnancies.

It was undertaken by researchers from Southampton and its National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, the University of Auckland, the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Science, Research and Technology Agency.

The results showed that nine out of ten women had low or low levels of folate, riboflavin, vitamins B12 and D at the time of conception, and many of them developed vitamin B6 deficiency in late pregnancy.

Co-author Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology Wayne Cutfield, from the University of Auckland, said that although folic acid is recommended for women planning conception and during pregnancy, pregnant women should receive over-the-counter multivitamins. free to reduce nutritional deficiencies.

He added: “A mother’s well-being before conception and during pregnancy has a direct influence on the infant’s health, lifelong physical development and ability to learn. »

THE PLOS Medicine This trial was the first to show that supplements, available over the counter, can reduce vitamin deficiencies during the preconception, pregnancy and breastfeeding periods.

Associate Professor Shiao-Yng Chan from the National University of Singapore said: “If we continue to move towards diets containing less meat and dairy, thereby reducing the intake of micronutrients essential for child development , vitamin deficiencies will continue to grow unless women start taking more of them. supplements or are supported by specific advice on nutrient-dense foods.