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Nutrients
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Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and...
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Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2024 | Viewed by 4504

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Akio Nakamura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food and Health Sciences, Jissen Women's University, Hino, Japan
Interests: maternal nutrition; undernutrition; overnutrition; intrauterine environment; DOHaD

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to be part of a transformative research endeavor. This Special Issue seeks to shed light on the critical role of maternal nutrition during the fetal period and its profound implications for the long-term health of offspring. The scientific background underlying the "developmental origins of health and disease" (DOHaD) concept, which originated from the pioneering work of David Barker et al. in 1980, highlights the intricate interplay between genes and the environment from conception to infancy, influencing the development of lifestyle-related diseases. As custodians of the future generation's well-being, understanding and addressing the impact of early maternal nutrition holds paramount significance.

 The overarching aim of this Special Issue aligns harmoniously with the scope of "Nutrients". By delving into the causal effects of the intrauterine environment during fetal development on the subsequent health trajectory of offspring, we strive to contribute valuable insights that bridge the gap between nutrition and human health.

 I cordially welcome original research articles and thought-provoking reviews that explore a myriad of themes. These may include, but are not limited to, discussions of the following:

1) The role of maternal nutrition in shaping early developmental processes;

2) Gene–environment interactions during the fetal period and their implications on health outcomes;

3) Investigating the impact of intrauterine nutrition on the development of lifestyle-related diseases;

4) Emerging non-clinical models to study early maternal nutrition and its effects;

5) Strategies for promoting optimal maternal nutrition and mitigating health risks for the next generation;

I eagerly await your invaluable contributions to this transformative Special Issue. Together, let us unravel the mysteries surrounding early maternal nutrition and pave the path towards a healthier and thriving future for generations to come.

Prof. Dr. Akio Nakamura
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • maternal nutrition
  • fetal nutrition
  • intrauterine nutrition
  • long-term health of offspring

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1571 KiB  
Article
Prenatal Choline Supplementation Improves Glucose Tolerance and Reduces Liver Fat Accumulation in Mouse Offspring Exposed to Ethanol during the Prenatal and Postnatal Periods
by Isma’il Kadam, Steven E. Trasino, Hunter Korsmo, Jessica Lucas, Myriam Pinkas and Xinyin Jiang
Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091264 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 331
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) affects cognitive development. However, it is unclear whether prenatal AE influences the metabolic health of offspring and whether postnatal AE exacerbates metabolic deterioration resulting from prenatal AE. Choline is a semi-essential nutrient that has been demonstrated to mitigate the [...] Read more.
Prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) affects cognitive development. However, it is unclear whether prenatal AE influences the metabolic health of offspring and whether postnatal AE exacerbates metabolic deterioration resulting from prenatal AE. Choline is a semi-essential nutrient that has been demonstrated to mitigate the cognitive impairment of prenatal AE. This study investigated how maternal choline supplementation (CS) may modify the metabolic health of offspring with prenatal and postnatal AE (AE/AE). C57BL/6J female mice were fed either a Lieber–DeCarli diet with 1.4% ethanol between embryonic day (E) 9.5 and E17.5 or a control diet. Choline was supplemented with 4 × concentrations versus the control throughout pregnancy. At postnatal week 7, offspring mice were exposed to 1.4% ethanol for females and 3.9% ethanol for males for 4 weeks. AE/AE increased hepatic triglyceride accumulation in male offspring only, which was normalized by prenatal CS. Prenatal CS also improved glucose tolerance compared to AE/AE animals. AE/AE suppressed hepatic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (Ppara) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr), which regulate fatty acid catabolism and cholesterol reuptake, respectively, in male offspring. However, these changes were not rectified by prenatal CS. In conclusion, AE/AE led to an increased risk of steatosis and was partially prevented by prenatal CS in male mice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences)
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12 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
Pre-Pregnancy Obesity and Infants’ Motor Development within the First Twelve Months of Life: Who Is Expected to Be the Ultimate Carrier of the Obesity Burden?
by Milan Lackovic, Dejan Nikolic, Biljana Milicic, Dejan Dimitrijevic, Ivona Jovanovic, Sofija Radosavljevic and Sladjana Mihajlovic
Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091260 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 346
Abstract
Introduction: Pre-pregnancy obesity is a significant public health concern with profound implications for maternal and child health. The burgeoning evidence suggests that maternal obesity prior to conception is intricately linked with an increased risk of gestational complications, as well as with adverse neonatal [...] Read more.
Introduction: Pre-pregnancy obesity is a significant public health concern with profound implications for maternal and child health. The burgeoning evidence suggests that maternal obesity prior to conception is intricately linked with an increased risk of gestational complications, as well as with adverse neonatal outcomes. Furthermore, the long and short-term health of offspring, including the risk of early motor development impairment, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in childhood and adulthood, may be adversely affected as well. Addressing pre-pregnancy obesity is critical for improving overall maternal and child health outcomes, and therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the connections linking pre-pregnancy obesity with infants’ motor development within the first twelve months of infants’ lives. Material and Methods: This study included 200 mother–infant pairs divided into two groups based on their pre-pregnancy body mass index values. To assess infants’ early motor development, we used the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and evaluated the parameters of infants’ early motor development at the ages of three, six, nine, and twelve months. Results: Pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity was significantly associated with excessive gestational weight gain (p < 0.001), fetal macrosomia (p = 0.022), and a family history of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (p = 0.048 and p = 0.041, respectively), as well as with all observed parameters of early motor development at the ages of three, six, nine, and twelve months: AIMS 3 months total (p < 0.001), AIMS 6 months total (p < 0.001), AIMS 9 months total (p < 0.001), and AIMS 12 months total (p < 0.001). Furthermore, pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity was a significant predictor for AIMS 6 months total (p = 0.043) and AIMS 6 months supination (p = 0.017). Conclusions: Pre-pregnancy obesity is a critical determinant of pregnancy outcomes and offspring early motor development, with possible far-reaching implications for children’s long-term well-being. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that includes preconception weight management, targeted interventions during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and ongoing research to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective strategies for prevention and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences)
16 pages, 3434 KiB  
Article
Methionine Supplementation Alleviates the Germ Cell Apoptosis Increased by Maternal Caffeine Intake in a C. elegans Model
by Hyemin Min, Juhae Kim, Mijin Lee, Sangwon Kang and Yhong-Hee Shim
Nutrients 2024, 16(6), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060894 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 690
Abstract
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a widely consumed bioactive substance worldwide. Our recent study showed that a reduction in both reproduction and yolk protein production (vitellogenesis) caused by caffeine intake were improved by vitamin B12 supplementation, which is an essential co-factor in methionine metabolism. In [...] Read more.
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a widely consumed bioactive substance worldwide. Our recent study showed that a reduction in both reproduction and yolk protein production (vitellogenesis) caused by caffeine intake were improved by vitamin B12 supplementation, which is an essential co-factor in methionine metabolism. In the current study, we investigated the role of methionine in the reproduction of caffeine-ingested animals (CIAs). We assessed the effect of methionine metabolism on CIAs and found that caffeine intake decreased both methionine levels and essential enzymes related to the methionine cycle. Furthermore, we found that the caffeine-induced impairment of methionine metabolism decreased vitellogenesis and increased germ cell apoptosis in an LIN-35/RB-dependent manner. Interestingly, the increased germ cell apoptosis was restored to normal levels by methionine supplementation in CIAs. These results indicate that methionine supplementation plays a beneficial role in germ cell health and offspring development by regulating vitellogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences)
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14 pages, 1082 KiB  
Article
Close Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet during Pregnancy Decreases Childhood Overweight/Obesity: A Prospective Study
by Andrés Díaz-López, Laura Rodríguez Espelt, Susana Abajo and Victoria Arija
Nutrients 2024, 16(4), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040532 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1472
Abstract
The study of dietary patterns during pregnancy may be of great importance for determining the potential risk of obesity in childhood. We assessed the prospective association between maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) during pregnancy and risk of childhood overweight/obesity at 4 [...] Read more.
The study of dietary patterns during pregnancy may be of great importance for determining the potential risk of obesity in childhood. We assessed the prospective association between maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) during pregnancy and risk of childhood overweight/obesity at 4 years. This prospective analysis involved 272 mother–child pairs from the ECLIPSES study. Maternal diet during pregnancy was assessed using a validated 45-item food-frequency questionnaire and a relative whole-pregnancy MedDiet score (rMedDiet) was calculated. The children’s weight and height were measured at the age of 4. Primary outcome was childhood overweight/obesity based on age- and-sex-specific BMI z-score > 85th percentile using the WHO child growth standards. Mean maternal rMedDiet score in pregnancy was 9.8 (±standard deviation 2.3) and 25.7% of the children were overweight/obese. Significant differences in anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and BMI) were found according to sex, with higher scores for boys. After controlling for potential confounders, greater maternal adherence to rMedDiet during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of childhood overweight/obesity, highest vs. lowest quartile (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12–0.90; p-trend 0.037). Similar trends regarding this association (per 1-point increase rMedDiet score) were observed after stratification by advanced maternal age, maternal early pregnancy BMI, education, socioeconomic status, smoking, and gestational weight gain. Our findings suggest that closer adherence to the MedDiet during pregnancy may protect against the risk of offspring overweight/obesity at 4 years. Further research is needed to explore whether associations persist across the life course. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences)
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18 pages, 551 KiB  
Article
Association between Maternal Birth Weight and Prevalence of Congenital Malformations in Offspring: The Japanese Environment and Children’s Study
by Hirotaka Hamada, Noriyuki Iwama, Hasumi Tomita, Kazuma Tagami, Natsumi Kumagai, Rie Kudo, Hongxin Wang, Seiya Izumi, Zen Watanabe, Mami Ishikuro, Taku Obara, Nozomi Tatsuta, Hirohito Metoki, Masatoshi Saito, Chiharu Ota, Shinichi Kuriyama, Takahiro Arima, Nobuo Yaegashi and The Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Nutrients 2024, 16(4), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040531 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1128
Abstract
Congenital malformations are functional and structural alterations in embryonic or foetal development resulting from a variety of factors including maternal health status. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring using [...] Read more.
Congenital malformations are functional and structural alterations in embryonic or foetal development resulting from a variety of factors including maternal health status. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring using data from a nationwide birth cohort study in Japan including 103,060 pregnancies. A binary logistic regression model with adjustment for various covariates revealed that an MBW of <2500 g (low MBW) was associated with an increased risk of congenital heart disease (adjusted odds ratio: 1.388, [95% confidence interval: 1.075–1.792]), angioma (1.491 [1.079–2.059]), and inguinal hernia (1.746, [1.189–2.565]), while those with an MBW of ≥4000 g (high MBW) were associated with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract (2.194, [1.261–3.819]) and arrhythmia (1.775, [1.157–2.725]) compared with those with an MBW of 3000–3499 g. Low MBW was associated with cleft lip and/or palate (1.473, [1.052–2.064]), congenital heart disease (1.615, [1.119–2.332]), genital organs (1.648, [1.130–2.405]), hypospadias (1.804, [1.130–2.881]), and inguinal hernia (1.484, [1.189–1.851]) in male infants and CAKUT (1.619, [1.154–2.273]) in female infants, whereas high MBW was associated with congenital heart disease (1.745, [1.058–2.877]) and CAKUT (2.470, [1.350–4.517]) in male infants. The present study is the first to demonstrate a link between MBW and congenital malformations in Japanese children. While these results must be interpreted with caution, MBW should be considered a major predictor of congenital malformation risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Maternal Nutrition and Its Impact: Unraveling the Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences)
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