Diet Quality of Pregnant Women With a Strict Plant-based Diet Versus an Omnivorous Diet

Launched by MAASTRICHT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · Sep 13, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how the diets of pregnant women affect their nutritional intake, specifically focusing on vitamin B12 levels. The study will compare women who follow a strict plant-based diet, meaning they do not eat any animal products, with those who eat an omnivorous diet, which includes meat. By observing these two groups, researchers hope to see if their nutritional intake is similar and how it impacts their health during pregnancy.

To participate in this study, women need to be at least 18 years old and less than 27 weeks pregnant. They should either be following a strict vegan diet or an omnivorous diet. Participants will fill out a health questionnaire, keep a three-day food diary, and provide a blood sample for testing. This study is currently not recruiting participants, but if you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested, it could be an important opportunity to contribute to understanding nutrition during pregnancy.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Before 27 weeks of pregnancy
• • Age \>18 years
• • Strict plant-based diet (vegan diet), defined as a diet without ingestion of animal products (i.e., intake less than once a month during) the entire pregnancy or omnivorous diet, defined as a diet that includes meat
• • Willing and able to give written informed consent and to understand, participate and comply with the research project requirements
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Food allergy that influences the nutritional intake, e.g., milk allergy, celiac disease, and lactose intolerance
• • Medical history of gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease and other diseases associated with vitamin B12 deficiencies such as (pre-existing) diabetes.
• • Medical history of abdominal surgery interfering with nutrient uptake, such as gastric bypass and intestinal resections
• • Pre-existing cardio-vascular diseases or auto-immune diseases
• • Insufficient understanding of the Dutch language