Pregnant vegans risk blood pressure disorder, underweight babies: Study
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Pregnant vegans are at higher risk of blood pressure issues and giving birth to underweight babies, according to researchers in Denmark.
The latest research, published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica by University of Copenhagen researchers, found babies born to vegan mothers weighed half a pound less on average.
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Women who avoided all animal products were also at a higher risk of preeclampsia, a high blood pressure disorder that can occur during pregnancy, according to the findings.
Researchers analyzed data from 66,738 Danish women who filled out a questionnaire at the midpoint of their pregnancy between 1996 and 2002. Nearly 99% said they consumed animal products in their diets, while 666 identified as fish/poultry vegetarians, 183 were vegetarians, and 18 were vegans.
The study found lower protein consumption among vegans and vegetarians compared with women who ate meat as part of their diet.
Researchers also found women who avoided meat also had lower intake of micronutrients. However, supplements improved the health of babies.
“Intake of micronutrients was also considerably lower among vegans, but when dietary supplements were taken into consideration, no major differences were observed,” the researchers wrote.
The results echo previous studies that focused on expectant mothers who avoided meats.
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According to a 2019 study published by the National Library of Medicine in the U.S., an increase of essential nutrients such as protein was beneficial for babies.
“Each stage of fetal growth is dependent on appropriate maternal nutrient transfer, so a balanced diet is essential to avoid fetal complications,” the authors wrote.
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