Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Supplements in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review
- 1Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2HIVE Health Innovation Center, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400095 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 3Department of Neurosciences—Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Abstract
Purpose: This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on the safety and efficacy of anti-inflammatory dietary supplements used during pregnancy, assessing maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2016–June 2026), following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework (10.17605/osf.io/4kmv9). Eligible studies included human clinical trials and observational studies evaluating anti-inflammatory dietary supplements in pregnant women. Results: Eighty unique studies (96 publications) from 28 countries were included, of which 63 (78.8%) were randomized clinical trials. Thirteen supplement categories were identified. Vitamin D (n = 23) and omega-3 fatty acids (n = 17) accounted for nearly half of all studies; probiotics (n = 11) formed the third-largest category. For these three supplements, most studies reported changes in inflammatory and glycemic markers, primarily in gestational diabetes mellitus and high-risk populations, but adverse events were collected in a minority of studies, so tolerability is documented rather than established. Evidence for zinc, magnesium, and alpha-lipoic acid was limited. Curcumin, chlorella, vitamin E, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, and ginger were each supported by only one or two studies. Supplementation was initiated in the first trimester in 19 studies (23.8%), and neonatal safety outcomes were reported infrequently. Conclusions: Evidence on anti-inflammatory dietary supplements in pregnancy is concentrated in a few compounds, in a small number of countries, and in biochemical outcomes measured in selected populations. Tolerability was evaluated in only a small number of studies, which limits its use as an indicator of safety. The map highlights the scarcity of controlled studies with prespecified harm outcomes, of first-trimester initiation, and of infant follow-up beyond the first months of life.
Related
- Can Dietary Supplements Improve Inflammatory Biomarkers and Clinical Symptoms in Migraine? A Narrative Review
- Dietary modification and nutritional supplements for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Delivering balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements to pregnant and breastfeeding women in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
- Diagnostic accuracy of the appendicitis inflammatory response (AIR) score for acute appendicitis during pregnancy: A systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis
- Changes in Disordered Eating Across Pregnancy: A Rapid Scoping Review
BibTeX
@article{apan2026antiinflammatory,
title = {{Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Supplements in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review}},
author = {Anamaria Apan and Cristina Pop and Irina Iaru and Oliviu Voștinaru and Răzvan Mircea Cherecheș and Maria Bonea and Cristina Mogoșan},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213627},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3627},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Supplements in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review
AU - Anamaria Apan
AU - Cristina Pop
AU - Irina Iaru
AU - Oliviu Voștinaru
AU - Răzvan Mircea Cherecheș
AU - Maria Bonea
AU - Cristina Mogoșan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213627
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3627
AB - Purpose: This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on the safety and efficacy of anti-inflammatory dietary supplements used during pregnancy, assessing maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2016–June 2026), following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework (10.17605/osf.io/4kmv9). Eligible studies included human clinical trials and observational studies evaluating anti-inflammatory dietary supplements in pregnant women. Results: Eighty unique studies (96 publications) from 28 countries were included, of which 63 (78.8%) were randomized clinical trials. Thirteen supplement categories were identified. Vitamin D (n = 23) and omega-3 fatty acids (n = 17) accounted for nearly half of all studies; probiotics (n = 11) formed the third-largest category. For these three supplements, most studies reported changes in inflammatory and glycemic markers, primarily in gestational diabetes mellitus and high-risk populations, but adverse events were collected in a minority of studies, so tolerability is documented rather than established. Evidence for zinc, magnesium, and alpha-lipoic acid was limited. Curcumin, chlorella, vitamin E, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, and ginger were each supported by only one or two studies. Supplementation was initiated in the first trimester in 19 studies (23.8%), and neonatal safety outcomes were reported infrequently. Conclusions: Evidence on anti-inflammatory dietary supplements in pregnancy is concentrated in a few compounds, in a small number of countries, and in biochemical outcomes measured in selected populations. Tolerability was evaluated in only a small number of studies, which limits its use as an indicator of safety. The map highlights the scarcity of controlled studies with prespecified harm outcomes, of first-trimester initiation, and of infant follow-up beyond the first months of life.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -