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

BACKGROUND

Fetal nutrient supply depends on maternal status. Pregnant women tend to pay close attention to their health and diet, and micronutrient supplementation is widely practiced. Overweight and obese pregnant women exhibit altered metabolism, inflammation, and placental function. These may limit the efficacy of nutritional supplementation in this population. Robust evidence on supplement efficacy and safety in this high-risk group is lacking. To evaluate the effects of antenatal nutritional supplementation on perinatal outcomes in women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to 16 July 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any nutritional supplement versus placebo in pregnant women with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2. Nineteen RCTs (3482 participants) were included; risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using fixed- or random-effects models.

RESULTS

Supplements did not alter birth weight (SMD 0.04; 95% CI -0.04 to 0.11) or overall cesarean section risk. Probiotic supplementation increased preterm birth risk by 86% (RR 1.86; 95% CI 1.09-3.18). Inositol reduced preterm birth (RR 0.28; 95% CI 0.13-0.64) and preeclampsia (RR 0.40; 95% CI 0.19-0.83). Unsaturated fatty acids lowered macrosomia incidence (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.29-0.95).

CONCLUSION

Routine unsaturated fatty acids and inositol supplementation should be considered for overweight or obese pregnant women to reduce macrosomia, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension. Chronic or prophylactic probiotic supplementation is not recommended.