Researchers in Indonesia tested whether adding extra nutrients to tempeh (a soy food) could help pregnant women have healthier, bigger babies. Stunting—when children don’t grow to their full height—affects many kids in Indonesia, often starting before birth due to poor nutrition. The study compared pregnant women who ate regular tempeh with those who ate fortified tempeh (tempeh with added vitamins and minerals). While the results weren’t statistically significant, babies born to mothers eating fortified tempeh showed slightly better measurements. This research suggests that fortified tempeh could be an affordable, locally-available way to improve nutrition for pregnant women and reduce stunting in developing countries.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether adding extra nutrients to tempeh helps pregnant women have bigger, healthier babies at birth
  • Who participated: Pregnant women in Kuningan Regency, Indonesia, divided into two groups—one eating regular tempeh and one eating tempeh with added nutrients
  • Key finding: Babies born to mothers eating fortified tempeh weighed slightly more (2.92 kg vs. a comparison group) and were slightly longer (49.1 cm), though these differences weren’t large enough to be statistically certain
  • What it means for you: Fortified tempeh may be a simple, affordable way to support healthy fetal growth, especially in areas where malnutrition is common. However, more research is needed before making strong recommendations. Pregnant women should consult their healthcare provider about nutrition during pregnancy.

The Research Details

This was a quasi-experimental study, which means researchers compared two groups of pregnant women but didn’t randomly assign them to groups like in a traditional experiment. One group received fortified tempeh (regular tempeh with added vitamins and minerals), while the other group received regular tempeh. Researchers measured babies’ weight and length at birth and compared the two groups to see if there were differences.

The study took place in Kuningan Regency, Indonesia, an area where stunting and malnutrition are significant health concerns. By using tempeh—a traditional, affordable, locally-available food—researchers hoped to find a practical solution that could be easily adopted in communities with limited resources.

This approach is practical because it tests a real-world intervention using foods people already eat, rather than expensive supplements or medications.

This research matters because stunting affects millions of children worldwide and often begins before birth when mothers don’t get enough nutrition. Finding affordable, culturally-appropriate foods that can improve nutrition during pregnancy could help prevent stunting and improve children’s long-term health. Tempeh is perfect for this because it’s inexpensive, widely available in Indonesia, and already part of the traditional diet.

This study has some important limitations to understand: the exact number of participants wasn’t specified in the abstract, which makes it harder to judge how reliable the results are. The study design (quasi-experimental) is less rigorous than a randomized controlled trial, where participants are randomly assigned to groups. This means other factors besides the fortified tempeh might have influenced the results. The differences found were small and not statistically significant, meaning they could have happened by chance.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that babies born to mothers eating fortified tempeh had slightly better measurements at birth compared to the regular tempeh group. Babies in the fortified tempeh group weighed an average of 2.92 kilograms and measured 49.1 centimeters in length. However, the researchers noted that these differences were not statistically significant, which means the differences were small enough that they could have occurred by random chance rather than because of the fortified tempeh.

This is an important distinction: while the trend was positive (suggesting fortified tempeh might help), the evidence wasn’t strong enough to say with confidence that the fortified tempeh caused the improvement. The researchers described this as a ‘positive trend,’ meaning the direction of the results was encouraging, even if the differences weren’t large enough to be certain.

The study highlighted that fortified tempeh could be a cost-effective intervention for improving maternal nutrition. Because tempeh is already affordable and culturally accepted in Indonesia, adding nutrients to it doesn’t require expensive new products or major changes to eating habits. This makes it a practical option for public health programs trying to improve nutrition in communities with limited budgets.

This research builds on existing knowledge that maternal nutrition during pregnancy directly affects fetal growth and birth outcomes. Previous studies have shown that malnutrition during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight and stunting. This study adds to that knowledge by testing whether fortifying a traditional food could be an effective solution. The results align with the general understanding that better maternal nutrition supports better fetal development, though the evidence here is preliminary.

Several limitations should be considered: First, the exact sample size wasn’t provided, making it difficult to assess how many women participated and whether the study was large enough to detect real differences. Second, as a quasi-experimental study, it wasn’t a randomized controlled trial, so other factors (like overall diet quality, healthcare access, or socioeconomic status) might have influenced the results. Third, the differences found were not statistically significant, meaning we can’t be confident they were caused by the fortified tempeh rather than chance. Finally, the study was conducted in one specific region of Indonesia, so results may not apply to other populations or countries.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, fortified tempeh appears to be a promising, low-cost option for supporting maternal nutrition during pregnancy. However, the evidence is preliminary (low to moderate confidence level). Pregnant women should continue following their healthcare provider’s recommendations for nutrition and prenatal care. While adding fortified tempeh to a healthy diet is unlikely to cause harm and may provide benefits, it should not replace other recommended prenatal vitamins or medical care.

This research is most relevant to pregnant women in developing countries like Indonesia where malnutrition is common and affordable nutrition solutions are needed. Public health officials and nutrition programs in resource-limited settings should pay attention to this research. Healthcare providers working with pregnant populations should be aware of this potential intervention. However, this research shouldn’t change care for pregnant women in developed countries with access to diverse, nutrient-rich foods and prenatal supplements.

If fortified tempeh does help improve fetal growth, the benefits would occur during pregnancy, with results visible at birth through improved birth weight and length. Long-term benefits for reducing stunting would likely become apparent in the first few years of a child’s life. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects and determine the optimal amount and duration of fortified tempeh consumption during pregnancy.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly servings of fortified tempeh consumed during pregnancy (target: 3-4 servings per week) alongside other protein sources to monitor dietary diversity and nutrient intake
  • Users could set a goal to include fortified tempeh in 3-4 meals per week as part of a balanced pregnancy diet, logging servings and noting how they feel. The app could provide recipes and preparation tips for tempeh to make it easier to incorporate into daily meals
  • Monitor overall dietary quality by tracking protein intake, micronutrient sources, and meal variety throughout pregnancy. Pair this with regular prenatal checkups and weight gain tracking to assess overall nutritional status and fetal development

This research presents preliminary findings about fortified tempeh as a nutritional intervention during pregnancy. The results were not statistically significant, meaning we cannot be certain the fortified tempeh caused the observed differences. This information is educational and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider. Pregnant women should consult with their doctor or midwife before making significant dietary changes. Prenatal vitamins and medical care recommended by your healthcare provider remain essential for healthy pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted in Indonesia and results may not apply to all populations.