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‹ Tue · 24 Mar 2026
Near-term implementable finding

Effects of Nutritional Supplement Intake on Pregnancy Outcomes in Overweight and Obese Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Inositol and omega-3 supplements reduce serious pregnancy complications in overweight women—practical, low-risk options backed by clinical trials.

This meta-analysis of 19 RCTs (3,482 overweight/obese pregnant women) finds that inositol and omega-3 supplementation have beneficial pregnancy outcomes (reduced preterm birth, preeclampsia, macrosomia), while probiotic supplementation significantly increased preterm birth risk. These findings provide directly implementable clinical guidance for this high-prevalence maternal subgroup.

What the study was

Study design
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs (n=3,482)
Population
Overweight/obese pregnant women (BMI ≥25), n=3,482 pooled
Sample size
3482
Category
Prevention
Maturity
Validated
Journal
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research

Why it surfaced

High-quality meta-analysis with actionable clinical guidance for obese pregnant women; probiotic harm signal is particularly significant. Maternal obesity is a high-prevalence, underserved population.

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