Does Vegetarianism in Pregnancy Risk Mom and Baby?
Fatty acid composition is highly relevant to mental health, hormonal balance, and fetal growth. A growing body of literature supports the role of omega 3 fatty acids in mitigating the toxic effects of Standard American Diet-induced membrane toxicity. One of the risks of a vegetarian diet may be limited sources of preformed long chain fatty acids such as DHA and EPA which may have psychiatric and/or obstetrical consequences.
- This study assessed cord levels of DHA and EPA in vegetarian vs ominvorous women blood samples.
- Duration of labor, birth weight, head circumference, and length were lower in the vegetarian cohort.
- DHA levels did not independently correlate; however, which suggests that there are a variety of lifestyle contributors to these observed outcomes.
Limitations of a vegan and possibly a vegetarian diet include: preformed vitamin A, which many women are not able to effectively synthesize, and K2 and B12 available from animal products.
Read the study which explores the risks of vegetarianism in pregnancy.
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