The Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diet during Pregnancy on the Health of Mothers and Offspring.

ABSTRACT: Vegetarian and vegan diets have increased worldwide in the last decades, according to the knowledge that they might prevent coronary heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Althought plant-based diets are at risk of nutritional deficiencies such as proteins, iron, vitamin D, calcium, iodine, omega-3, and vitamin B12, the available evidence shows that well planned vegetarian and vegan diets may be considered safe during pregnancy and lactation, but they require a strong awareness for a balanced intake of key nutrients. A review of the scientific literature in this field was performed, focusing specifically on observational studies in humans, in order to investigate protective effects elicited by maternal diets enriched in plant-derived foods and possible unfavorable outcomes related to

SUBMITTER: Sebastiani G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6470702 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature