Nutritional advice for improving outcomes in multiple pregnancies.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Multiple pregnancies carry higher risks of perinatal mortality and morbidity, often linked to preterm birth.
• Maternal weight gain is crucial for fetal outcomes, prompting suggestions for specialized, high-calorie diets in multiple gestations.
• The benefits of artificially boosting maternal weight gain through diet in multiple pregnancies are uncertain and may have drawbacks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of specialized diets and nutritional advice on women with multiple pregnancies (two or more fetuses).

Main Methods:

• A systematic search was conducted using the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register.
• Included study designs were randomized controlled trials, quasi-random studies, and cluster-randomized trials.
• Studies reported only as abstracts and crossover trials were excluded.

Main Results:

• A thorough search identified no eligible trials for inclusion in this review.
• No studies met the criteria for evaluating specialized diets or nutritional advice in multiple pregnancies.

Conclusions:

• There is insufficient robust evidence from randomized trials to confirm the benefits or harms of specialized diets for multiple pregnancies.
• A significant need exists for conducting randomized controlled trials to address this knowledge gap.