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Cadernos de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento

Print version ISSN 1519-0307On-line version ISSN 1809-4139

Abstract

CALABRIA, André Chaves; SPANIOL, Claudia  and  GOMES, Mirna Grubert. Vegetarian diet in pregnancy and impact on the maternal and fetal organism: a literature review. Cad. Pós-Grad. Distúrb. Desenvolv. [online]. 2020, vol.20, n.1, pp. 132-157. ISSN 1519-0307.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/cadernosdisturbios.v20n1p132-157.

During pregnancy, nutritional needs are increased due to fetal development. Therefore, it is interesting to question whether dietary restrictions, as in vegetarianism, are safe for pregnant women and fetuses. As an objective, we sought to discuss possible impacts of vegetarian diets on pregnancy and investigate whether there are nutritional deficiencies caused by these diets in pregnancy. The study was carried out through bibliographic research in national and international journals indexed in the databases PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, Bireme, Lilacs from 2009 to 2019. The descriptors in science and health used were: vegetarian diet; nutritional deficiencies; vitamins and pregnancy. The inclusion criteria for the selection were free articles that explore vegetarian and vegan diets during pregnancy or the complications of these diets in the pregnant woman, the fetus and the newborn. The exclusion criteria were articles that do not address the consequences of these diets on pregnancy, but on non-pregnant women and/or adult men; studies addressing the long-term consequences of vegetarian and vegan diets adopted during pregnancy in children and adolescents. 14,006 articles were found with the keywords. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 selected articles were analyzed. The articles show that pregnant vegetarians are more susceptible to nutrient deficiency - mainly vitamin B12, iron, zinc and iodine. These nutritional deficiencies predispose the pregnant woman and the newborn to anemia, which can harm fetal development. In addition, they are associated with premature birth and problems in neuropsychomotor development. A balanced diet adapted to the new physiological needs of the pregnant woman is essential for the general health of the pregnant woman and adequate fetal development. Often oral supplementation is necessary, as well as monitoring the diet by health professionals and carrying out an adequate prenatal care, with special attention to the possible nutritional deficiencies that the pregnant woman may have.

Keywords : Vegetarianism; Gestation; Pregnancy; Nutrition; Gestational period.

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