The Planetary Health Diet can meet important nutrient requirements during early pregnancy, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition and announced on Mar. 31. The research suggests that pregnant women who follow this mostly plant-based diet may have higher intakes of several nutrients critical for pregnancy, such as folate, iron, calcium, and dietary fiber.
This finding is significant as it addresses concerns about both maternal nutrition and environmental sustainability. With food production impacting the environment, there is increasing interest in diets that support both human health and ecological goals.
The Planetary Health Diet emphasizes plant-based foods while reducing animal products like red and processed meats. Unlike vegan or vegetarian diets, it allows some animal-based foods but at lower levels. The study titled 'Alignment of the Planetary Health Diet with Pregnancy Dietary Guidelines: Insights from Two Cohorts' examined whether this approach aligns with daily nutrient needs during pregnancy based on European Food Safety Authority guidelines.
Researchers from UCD Perinatal Research Centre assessed dietary patterns among 678 pregnant women attending The National Maternity Hospital in Dublin. Dietary assessments were completed during the first trimester to calculate adherence to the Planetary Health Diet Index.
"The findings showed that adhering to a planetary health diet in pregnancy results in better intakes of many important nutrients in pregnancy and, at the same time, supports environmental sustainability," said Prof Fionnuala McAuliffe, senior author and Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCD School of Medicine.
While most key nutrient requirements were met through this diet pattern, researchers noted that additional supplements for folate, vitamin D, and iodine are still recommended for all pregnant women to ensure complete nutritional coverage.
