A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Fertility and Sterility finds that certain dietary patterns such as those high in fruit and vegetables may be associated with a significantly lower risk of miscarriage, while diets high in processed foods may increase the risk.
Researchers from Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research at the University of Birmingham analyzed 20 observational studies involving 63,838 women, with 13,183 included in a formal meta-analysis. The team evaluated how dietary intake before and during early pregnancy correlated with miscarriage risk.
The primary analysis found that higher intake of fruit was associated with a 61% reduction in miscarriage risk, while vegetables were linked to a 41% reduction. Combined fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a 37% reduction in risk.
In contrast, a diet rich in processed foods was associated with nearly double the risk of miscarriage, while a whole diet perceived as healthy or high in antioxidants was associated with reduced risk.
They authors emphasize that all included studies were observational, meaning they show an association but cannot prove that diet directly causes or prevents miscarriage.
Miscarriage affects roughly one in six pregnancies, with nearly half of early losses remaining unexplained.
