Effect of Dietary Patterns and, or Nutrition Strategies Reducing Risk in Adverse Maternal Health Occurrences during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Abstract Dietary patterns and nutrition strategies are essential to maintain optimal maternal health during pregnancy to prevent and minimize conditions that lead to complications. Previous studies found nutrition education and counseling effect on food habit modification, beneficial during pregnancy. In promoting health and reducing adverse maternal conditions during pregnancy, need increasing knowledge on diversities of dietary pattern consumption, modify attitude and practice. The present review conducted on effect of dietary patterns and/or nutrition interventions on health risks such as hypertension disorders in pregnancy or gestational hypertension or high blood pressure related to obesity or overweight, low haemoglobin, undernutrition and anaemia. Eighteen eligible studies identified. Studies on dietary patterns: Mediterranean or DASH diets, DASH diet vs Western diet with dietary counseling, combined nutrition counseling, advice and healthy diet. Healthy diet vs Western, Traditional or high-energy-foo; 2 healthy diets rich in fruit and vegetables. Two healthy diets combined with dietary counseling, nutrition messages compared with high-energy-food. The remaining 5 studies were nutrition education and health promotion model, dietary counseling and knowledge, attitude and practice with healthy diet, nutrition education with or without diet plan, then guided counseling with planned behaviour model. The studies reported positive impact on reduction of maternal adverse conditions, improved anthropometric, haemoglobin, undernutrition or malnutrition status. Study designs were 5 randomized controlled interventions, 11 prospective or longitudinal cohort studies and 2 systematic review.