Evidence mapPaperPMID 39758872Full record

ReviewMetabolism open2025

Strict vegetarian diet and pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Theopisti Papadopoulou, Antigoni Sarantaki, Dimitra Metallinou, Ermioni Palaska, Christina Nanou, Athina Diamanti

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Metabolism open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Theopisti PapadopoulouDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece.
Antigoni SarantakiDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece.
Dimitra MetallinouDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece.
Ermioni PalaskaDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece.
Christina NanouDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece.
Athina DiamantiDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing adoption of strict vegetarian diets during pregnancy has raised concerns about their effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of strict vegetarian diets on key pregnancy outcomes, including neonatal birth weight, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertensive disorders, and gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: A comprehensive literature search across multiple databases yielded eight studies from various countries, involving a total of 72,284 participants. Primary outcomes included neonatal birth weight, SGA, preterm birth, GDM, and maternal hypertensive disorders. Results: The meta-analysis found that strict vegetarian diets were significantly associated with an increased risk of delivering SGA infants, with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 2.71 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 to 5.95; Conclusions: Strict vegetarian diets during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of SGA infants and lower birth weights. To mitigate these risks, specific dietary guidelines emphasizing adequate intake of critical nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and iodine should be developed. Supplementation and tailored dietary counseling, incorporating fortified foods and plant-based sources like legumes, nuts, seeds, and algae-derived omega-3, are essential to ensure maternal and neonatal health. Further research is necessary to refine these guidelines and explore their impact on diverse populations.

Indexed as

Birth weightGestational diabetes mellitusPregnancy outcomesSmall-for-gestational-ageStrict vegetarian diet

Identifiers

PMID39758872
PMCPMC11699472

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.