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Nutritional anemia of pregnancy

Last edited: 4/10/2026

Overview

Nutritional anemia in pregnancy is a condition characterized by a deficiency in essential nutrients required for healthy maternal and fetal development. It can lead to various adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Diagnosis

Management

  • Personalized nutrition guidance, incorporating standards from routine protocols, may improve nutritional status and pregnancy outcomes compared to routine guidance alone 2.
  • Supplementation with Vitamin D may potentially protect against gestational diabetes mellitus and increase infant birth weight 1.
  • L-Arginine supplementation has shown potential to reduce the development of pre-eclampsia, decrease blood pressure, and improve fetal growth and neonatal outcomes in specific conditions 5.
  • Olive oil consumption has been associated with a lower prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia, and improved fetal outcomes 6.
  • Interventions such as education-based strategies, consumption monitoring, SMS reminders, free provision of supplements, and multicomponent interventions may increase adherence to prenatal micronutrient supplementation 7.
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Nutritional guidance and supplementation are crucial for meeting the needs of pregnant women and fetuses, improving pregnancy safety, and reducing complications 2.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Personalized nutrition guidance during pregnancy can improve maternal and fetal nutritional status, reduce adverse birth outcomes, and enhance pregnancy safety 2. (Evidence: Moderate)
  • Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may offer protection against gestational diabetes mellitus and increase infant birth weight 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
  • L-Arginine supplementation may be beneficial in reducing pre-eclampsia, lowering blood pressure in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and improving fetal growth and neonatal outcomes 5. (Evidence: Moderate)
  • Olive oil consumption is associated with a reduced risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and improved fetal outcomes 6. (Evidence: Moderate)
  • Interventions aimed at improving adherence to prenatal micronutrient supplementation, such as education and reminders, can be effective and may lead to beneficial pregnancy and birth outcomes 7. (Evidence: Moderate)
  • References

    1 Yang WC, Chitale R, O'Callaghan KM, Sudfeld CR, Smith ER. The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal, Neonatal, and Infant Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Nutrition reviews 2025. link 2 Yu M, Chen H, Li N. Influence of nutritional guidance during pregnancy on nutritional status and pregnancy outcome of pregnant women. African journal of reproductive health 2024. link 3 Palacios C, Kostiuk LL, Cuthbert A, Weeks J. Vitamin D supplementation for women during pregnancy. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2024. link 4 Ibrahim A, Khoo MI, Ismail EHE, Hussain NHN, Zin AAM, Noordin L et al.. Oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnancy: a systematic review. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E 2024. link 5 Menichini D, Feliciello L, Neri I, Facchinetti F. L-Arginine supplementation in pregnancy: a systematic review of maternal and fetal outcomes. The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 2023. link 6 Cortez-Ribeiro AC, Meireles M, Ferro-Lebres V, Almeida-de-Souza J. Olive oil consumption confers protective effects on maternal-fetal outcomes: A systematic review of the evidence. Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) 2023. link 7 Gomes F, King SE, Dallmann D, Golan J, da Silva ACF, Hurley KM et al.. Interventions to increase adherence to micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy: a systematic review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2021. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]
    3. [3]
      Vitamin D supplementation for women during pregnancy.Palacios C, Kostiuk LL, Cuthbert A, Weeks J The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2024)
    4. [4]
      Oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnancy: a systematic review.Ibrahim A, Khoo MI, Ismail EHE, Hussain NHN, Zin AAM, Noordin L et al. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2024)
    5. [5]
      L-Arginine supplementation in pregnancy: a systematic review of maternal and fetal outcomes.Menichini D, Feliciello L, Neri I, Facchinetti F The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians (2023)
    6. [6]
      Olive oil consumption confers protective effects on maternal-fetal outcomes: A systematic review of the evidence.Cortez-Ribeiro AC, Meireles M, Ferro-Lebres V, Almeida-de-Souza J Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) (2023)
    7. [7]
      Interventions to increase adherence to micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy: a systematic review.Gomes F, King SE, Dallmann D, Golan J, da Silva ACF, Hurley KM et al. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2021)

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