The journey to motherhood begins when a woman first considers her fertility. Her nutritional needs then evolve during pregnancy, as a new mother and when returning to work. Discover how nutritional support can help mums and mums-to-be to take care of their little ones, and themselves.
Good nutrition during pregnancy can support the growth and development of infants, and in combination with lifestyle choices, also influences babies’ health outcomes in early life
Marangoni, F., Cetin, I., Verduci, E., Canzone, G., Giovannini, M., Scollo, P., Corsello, G., & Poli, A. (2016). Maternal diet and nutrient requirements in pregnancy and breastfeeding. An Italian consensus document. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8100629
Miles, E. A., & Calder, P. C. (2017). Can early omega-3 fatty acid exposure reduce risk of childhood allergic disease? In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070784
as well as mums’ own health and well-being
Marangoni, F., Cetin, I., Verduci, E., Canzone, G., Giovannini, M., Scollo, P., Corsello, G., & Poli, A. (2016). Maternal diet and nutrient requirements in pregnancy and breastfeeding. An Italian consensus document. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8100629
. However, insufficiencies exist, with for example 40% of women of reproductive age reported to be insufficient in folate
Rogers, L. M., Cordero, A. M., Pfeiffer, C. M., Hausman, D. B., Tsang, B. L., De-Regil, L. M., Rosenthal, J., Razzaghi, H., Wong, E. C., Weakland, A. P., & Bailey, L. B. (2018). Global folate status in women of reproductive age: a systematic review with emphasis on methodological issues. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13963
and one third estimated to be anaemic, which may be caused by iron deficiency
WHO, 2021
.
Whether pregnant, trying to conceive or surviving new motherhood, women bearing children face unique challenges. It’s tough to maintain your physical and mental well-being while helping a tiny human grow. This is the time for brands to help with nutrition and pregnancy solutions based on science-backed ingredients.
Sufficient mineral uptake is essential during pregnancy. A study of iron-depleted young women found they were able to absorb greater amounts of iron from a supplement when they also consumed GOS
Jeroense, F., Michel, L., Zeder, C., & Herter-aeberli, I. (2019). Consumption of Galacto Oligosaccharides Increases Iron Absorption from Ferrous Fumarate : A Stable Iron Isotope Study in Iron-Depleted Young Women. J Nutr, 149, 738–746..
. GOS have also been found to significantly increase calcium absorption in post-menopausal women
Van den Heuvel, E. G. H. M., Schoterman, M. H. C., & Muijs, T. (2000). Transgalactooligosaccharides Stimulate Calcium Absorption in Postmenopausal Women. The Journal of Nutrition, 130, 2938–2942.
. In addition, studies showed that maternal supplementation of lactoferrin may reduce iron deficiency in pregnant women with significant less gastrointestinal side effects compared to iron supplementation
Abu Hashim, H., Foda, O., & Ghayaty, E. (2017). Lactoferrin or ferrous salts for iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: A meta-analysis of randomized trials. In European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.10.003
Lepanto, M. S., Rosa, L., Cutone, A., Conte, M. P., Paesano, R., & Valenti, P. (2018). Efficacy of lactoferrin oral administration in the treatment of anemia and anemia of inflammation in pregnant and non-pregnant women: An interventional study. Frontiers in Immunology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02123
Nappi, C., Tommaselli, G. A., Morra, I., Massaro, M., Formisano, C., & Di Carlo, C. (2009). Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: A prospective controlled randomized study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.1080/00016340903117994
Paesano, R., Torcia, F., Berlutti, F., Pacifici, E., Ebano, V., Moscarini, M., & Valenti, P. (2006). Oral administration of lactoferrin increases hemoglobin and total serum iron in pregnant women. Biochemistry and Cell Biology. https://doi.org/10.1139/O06-040
Paesano, R., Berlutti, F., Pietropaoli, M., Pantanella, F., Pacifici, E., Goolsbee, W., & Valenti, P. (2010). Lactoferrin efficacy versus ferrous sulfate in curing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. BioMetals. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-010-9335-z
Paesano, R., Pacifici, E., Benedetti, S., Berlutti, F., Frioni, A., Polimeni, A., & Valenti, P. (2014). Safety and efficacy of lactoferrin versus ferrous sulphate in curing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in hereditary thrombophilia pregnant women: an interventional study. Biometals : An International Journal on the Role of Metal Ions in Biology, Biochemistry, and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-014-9723-x
Rezk, M., Dawood, R., Abo-Elnasr, M., Al Halaby, A., & Marawan, H. (2016). Lactoferrin versus ferrous sulphate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2015.1049149
.
A healthy mind is as important as a healthy body. Initial results from a world-first collaborative study in 2021 found that the consumption of Vivinal® GOS may be effective in lowering anxiety and improving emotional well-being in highly anxious women
Johnstone, N., Milesi, C., Burn, O., van den Bogert, B., Nauta, A., Hart, K., Sowden, P., Burnet, P. W. J., & Cohen Kadosh, K. (2021). Anxiolytic effects of a galacto-oligosaccharides prebiotic in healthy females (18–25 years) with corresponding changes in gut bacterial composition. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87865-w
.
Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation to mums has been shown by multiple clinical trials to be advantageous. For example, the infants and children of supplemented mothers have better visual acuity and improved long-term neurodevelopment
Koletzko, B., Boey, C. C. M., Campoy, C., Carlson, S. E., Chang, N., Guillermo-Tuazon, M. A., Joshi, S., Prell, C., Quak, S. H., Sjarif, D. R., Su, Y., Supapannachart, S., Yamashiro, Y., & Osendarp, S. J. M. (2014). Current information and asian perspectives on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy: Systematic review and practice recommendations from an early nutrition academy workshop. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1159/000365767
Campoy, C., Escolano-Margarit, V., Anjos, T., Szajewska, H., & Uauy, R. (2012). Omega 3 fatty acids on child growth, visual acuity and neurodevelopment. In British Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114512001493
Jensen, C. L., Voigt, R. G., Prager, T. C., Zou, Y. L., Fraley, J. K., Rozelle, J. C., Turcich, M. R., Llorente, A. M., Anderson, R. E., & Heird, W. C. (2005). Effects of maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on visual function and neurodevelopment in breastfed term infants. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn.82.1.125
Jensen, C. L., Voigt, R. G., Llorente, A. M., Peters, S. U., Prager, T. C., Zou, Y. L., Rozelle, J. C., Turcich, M. R., Fraley, J. K., Anderson, R. E., & Heird, W. C. (2010). Effects of early maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on neuropsychological status and visual acuity at five years of age of breast-fed term infants. Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.06.006
. A lower risk of early premature birth
Koletzko, B., Boey, C. C. M., Campoy, C., Carlson, S. E., Chang, N., Guillermo-Tuazon, M. A., Joshi, S., Prell, C., Quak, S. H., Sjarif, D. R., Su, Y., Supapannachart, S., Yamashiro, Y., & Osendarp, S. J. M. (2014). Current information and asian perspectives on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy: Systematic review and practice recommendations from an early nutrition academy workshop. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1159/000365767
Kar, S., Wong, M., Rogozinska, E., & Thangaratinam, S. (2016). Effects of omega-3 fatty acids in prevention of early preterm delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.11.033
Middleton, P., Gomersall, J. C., Gould, J. F., Shepherd, E., Olsen, S. F., & Makrides, M. (2018). Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. In Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003402.pub3
Wilson, N. A., Mantzioris, E., Middleton, P. T., & Muhlhausler, B. S. (2019). Gestational age and maternal status of DHA and other polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy: A systematic review. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2019.04.006
and possibly the risk of allergy development in early life
Koletzko, B., Boey, C. C. M., Campoy, C., Carlson, S. E., Chang, N., Guillermo-Tuazon, M. A., Joshi, S., Prell, C., Quak, S. H., Sjarif, D. R., Su, Y., Supapannachart, S., Yamashiro, Y., & Osendarp, S. J. M. (2014). Current information and asian perspectives on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy: Systematic review and practice recommendations from an early nutrition academy workshop. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1159/000365767
Miles, E. A., & Calder, P. C. (2017). Can early omega-3 fatty acid exposure reduce risk of childhood allergic disease? In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070784
Bisgaard, H., Stokholm, J., Chawes, B. L., Vissing, N. H., Bjarnadóttir, E., Schoos, A.-M. M., Wolsk, H. M., Pedersen, T. M., Vinding, R. K., Thorsteinsdóttir, S., Følsgaard, N. V, Fink, N. R., Thorsen, J., Pedersen, A. G., Waage, J., Rasmussen, M. A., Stark, K. D., Olsen, S. F., & Bønnelykke, K. (2016). Fish Oil–Derived Fatty Acids in Pregnancy and Wheeze and Asthma in Offspring. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(26), 2530–2539. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1503734
Willemsen, L. E. M. (2016). Dietary n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in allergy prevention and asthma treatment. European Journal of Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.03.062
have also been suggested when mothers take DHA supplements.
Our latest research project asked women in China about their experiences
FrieslandCampina Ingredients, consumer research China, August 2020
. Here’s what we discovered:
57% of women are concerned about not getting enough nutrients during pregnancy.
Stress affects 58% of pregnant women during the first trimester, rising to 63% by the third trimester.
70% of Chinese women use supplements regularly: calcium, iron and DHA are the most popular choices.
77% of Chinese mothers are familiar with prebiotics*, and 31% with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) specifically.
To help mothers that have concerns, we offer solutions with ingredients such as GOS and DHA.
Get in touch
FrieslandCampina Ingredients is proud to play a global leadership role in the infant milk formula industry, backed by over 75 years of experience in ingredients manufacturing and research in early life nutrition. We never stop bringing the future forward through innovation—get in touch for more exclusive insights from parents and HCPs.
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*A substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit”. Gibson, GR. et al (2017). Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Aug;14(8):491-50
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