Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?

ABSTRACT Background Micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women are linked to serious health issues, including conception difficulties, spontaneous abortions, preterm births, low birth weight, birth defects and long‐term metabolic disorders. Despite the recognized importance of dietary supplementat...

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Main Authors: Leona Cilar Budler, Marija Spevan, Kata Ivanisevic, Marko Budler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Reproductive, Female and Child Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/rfc2.70011
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author Leona Cilar Budler
Marija Spevan
Kata Ivanisevic
Marko Budler
author_facet Leona Cilar Budler
Marija Spevan
Kata Ivanisevic
Marko Budler
author_sort Leona Cilar Budler
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women are linked to serious health issues, including conception difficulties, spontaneous abortions, preterm births, low birth weight, birth defects and long‐term metabolic disorders. Despite the recognized importance of dietary supplementation during pregnancy, rigorous research and supplementation monitoring remain limited. Objective This study aimed to review the evidence on the impact of dietary supplementation on maternal and infant outcomes and to provide evidence‐based recommendations for dietary supplementation during pregnancy. Methods A systematic search, analysis, and synthesis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted between October and January 2022. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL with Full Text, Google Scholar and CrossRef. The study adhered to PRISMA guidelines and applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. A total of 51 RCTs were included and assessed for quality, categorizing articles as moderate or high quality. Results Of the 51 RCTs analyzed, 47 (92.16%) were of moderate quality, and 4 (7.84%) were of high quality. Findings revealed that recommended dietary supplementation doses for pregnant women are often set well below safety thresholds. Evidence supporting the efficacy of certain vitamins and minerals in pregnancy remains inconclusive. The study highlighted a dose–response conundrum, with an emphasis on identifying effective and safe doses. Conclusion Micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women pose significant risks to maternal and infant health. Current dietary supplementation recommendations require enhancement and alignment with the latest and most robust evidence. This study provides a comprehensive overview of state‐of‐the‐art evidence and underscores the importance of bridging gaps in supplementation guidelines to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-d20e35f88e994de8a3e70e884c5ea9292025-08-20T02:10:28ZengWileyReproductive, Female and Child Health2768-72282025-03-0141n/an/a10.1002/rfc2.70011Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?Leona Cilar Budler0Marija Spevan1Kata Ivanisevic2Marko Budler3Faculty of Health Sciences University of Maribor Maribor SloveniaFaculty of Health Studies University of Rijeka Rijeka CroatiaFaculty of Health Studies University of Rijeka Rijeka CroatiaSchool of Economics and Business University of Ljubljana Ljubljana SloveniaABSTRACT Background Micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women are linked to serious health issues, including conception difficulties, spontaneous abortions, preterm births, low birth weight, birth defects and long‐term metabolic disorders. Despite the recognized importance of dietary supplementation during pregnancy, rigorous research and supplementation monitoring remain limited. Objective This study aimed to review the evidence on the impact of dietary supplementation on maternal and infant outcomes and to provide evidence‐based recommendations for dietary supplementation during pregnancy. Methods A systematic search, analysis, and synthesis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted between October and January 2022. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL with Full Text, Google Scholar and CrossRef. The study adhered to PRISMA guidelines and applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. A total of 51 RCTs were included and assessed for quality, categorizing articles as moderate or high quality. Results Of the 51 RCTs analyzed, 47 (92.16%) were of moderate quality, and 4 (7.84%) were of high quality. Findings revealed that recommended dietary supplementation doses for pregnant women are often set well below safety thresholds. Evidence supporting the efficacy of certain vitamins and minerals in pregnancy remains inconclusive. The study highlighted a dose–response conundrum, with an emphasis on identifying effective and safe doses. Conclusion Micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women pose significant risks to maternal and infant health. Current dietary supplementation recommendations require enhancement and alignment with the latest and most robust evidence. This study provides a comprehensive overview of state‐of‐the‐art evidence and underscores the importance of bridging gaps in supplementation guidelines to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/rfc2.70011
spellingShingle Leona Cilar Budler
Marija Spevan
Kata Ivanisevic
Marko Budler
Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?
Reproductive, Female and Child Health
title Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?
title_full Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?
title_fullStr Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?
title_full_unstemmed Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?
title_short Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy: Is It Time for a Product Recall?
title_sort evidence based recommendations for dietary supplementation during pregnancy is it time for a product recall
url https://doi.org/10.1002/rfc2.70011
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