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Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Impact of maternal fasting on fetal well-being parameters and fetal-neonatal outcome: a case-control study
Mohamed Abd-Allah Rezk1, Tarek Sayyed1, Mohamed Abo-Elnasr1,2
1a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University , Menoufia , Egypt .
Objective:
To assess the impact of maternal fasting on fetal well-being parameters and neonatal outcome.
Methods:
Two-hundred ten healthy women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies at 36-40 weeks' gestation who had fasted for 12-16 h were defined as the study group with 240 healthy non-fasted pregnant women matched for age, parity and gestational age were defined as the control group. Both groups were subjected to tests of fetal well-being in the form of non-stress test (NST), modified biophysical profile and Doppler indices of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Women were followed-up till delivery to record the obstetric outcome.
Results:
There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the reactivity of NST, modified biophysical scores, Doppler indices of the umbilical and MCA (resistive index, pulsatility index and systolic/diastolic ratio) and the cerebroplacental ratio (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, neonatal weight, 5-min Apgar scores and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Short-term maternal fasting has no deleterious effect on fetal well-being parameters or neonatal outcome. Pregnant women who desire fasting, should be reassured regarding the health of their babies.
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