Trial shows more than 90% of women trying for baby lack essential nutrients

Most of those tested lack nutrients crucial for healthy foetal development as found in abundance in meat and dairy products

More than 90% of women who are trying for a baby may have marginal or low levels of vitamins that are essential for a healthy pregnancy, according to researchers, who say the problem is likely to worsen as vegetarian diets become more popular.

Tests on more than 1,700 women in the UK, New Zealand and Singapore who planned to conceive revealed that most were lacking nutrients found in abundance in meat and dairy products, many of which are crucial for healthy foetal development.