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Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2025) | Viewed by 14171

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Louise Brough

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
Interests: iodine; thyroid; micronutrients; pregnancy; breastfeeding; infancy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gail Rees

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Senior Lecturer in Human Nutrition, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
Interests: dietary interventions to improve nutrition in women during pregnancy and in young children; management of obesity during pregnancy and childhood; micronutrient status in women and children
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optimum nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is important for the health and wellbeing of the mother and the developing child. Nutrition during pregnancy influences the physiological development and metabolism of the foetus and has the potential to determine the future health and disease risk of the offspring. Nutritional status during pregnancy also influences the mother’s breast milk, her nutritional status in future pregnancies, and the impact on the burden of chronic disease worldwide. Determining optimal nutrition for different stages of pregnancy and lactation and measuring nutrient intake are challenging. Across the world and within communities, different dietary patterns have been identified and linked to health outcomes. Dietary patterns, rather than individual food constituents and nutrients, may have a greater influence on health. This Special Issue seeks to bring together global research on dietary patterns and nutrient intakes during pregnancy and lactation to further our understanding of the influence of diet on maternal and foetal/infant outcomes.

Dr. Louise Brough
Dr. Gail Rees
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • dietary patterns
  • nutrition
  • nutrient intake
  • pregnancy
  • dietary intake
  • lactation
  • breastfeeding

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 144 KiB  
Editorial
Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation
by Gail Rees and Louise Brough
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1543; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091543 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2025
Abstract
Optimal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is essential for the health and well-being of both the mother and the developing child [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition))

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 231 KiB  
Article
Food Group Consumption and Nutrient Intake by Breastfeeding Women: Comparison to Current Dietary Guidelines and Nutrient Recommendations
by Ying Jin, Jane Coad and Louise Brough
Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030375 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1353
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Optimal nutrition is essential for the health of breastfeeding women and their infants. This study aimed to assess food and nutrient intake and alignment with nutrition guidelines for breastfeeding women living in New Zealand. Methods: Seventy-six breastfeeding women were enrolled in the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Optimal nutrition is essential for the health of breastfeeding women and their infants. This study aimed to assess food and nutrient intake and alignment with nutrition guidelines for breastfeeding women living in New Zealand. Methods: Seventy-six breastfeeding women were enrolled in the longitudinal Mother and Infant Nutrition Investigation study and completed a weighed four-day diet diary including supplement use at three months postpartum. The number of servings consumed for each food group were calculated based on the 2020 Eating and Activity Guidelines for New Zealand Adults. Nutrient intakes were compared to the nutrient reference values for Australia and New Zealand. Results: Overall, the percentages of women who met the recommended number of servings for fruits, vegetables, grain foods, meats and milk/milk products were 25%, 0%, 5%, 34%, and 13%, respectively. None of women met the current recommendations for all food groups. Many participants had intakes below the estimated average requirement or adequate intake and were at risk of nutrient inadequacy for vitamin E (55%), vitamin D (53%), manganese (61%), and selenium (55%). Conclusions: Breastfeeding women had a low alignment with the current dietary guidelines and were at risk of an inadequate intake of vitamin E, D, manganese, and selenium. Research to investigate the barriers and enablers of healthy food choices is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition))
17 pages, 2535 KiB  
Article
Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Hyperemesis Gravidarum
by Shihan Zhi, Lan Zhang, Wenjie Cheng, Yuan Jin, Zhaoqing Long, Wei Gu, Le Ma, Shunming Zhang and Jing Lin
Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2618; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162618 - 8 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2066
Abstract
(1) Background: Diet holds a pivotal position in exacerbating or ameliorating chronic inflammation, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). However, no study has explored the association between dietary inflammatory potential and HG. This study aimed to investigate the [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Diet holds a pivotal position in exacerbating or ameliorating chronic inflammation, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). However, no study has explored the association between dietary inflammatory potential and HG. This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between following a pro-inflammatory diet and the likelihood of developing HG. (2) Methods: A total of 2033 Chinese pregnant women (mean age: 31.3 ± 3.4 years) were included in this cross-sectional study from April 2021 to September 2022 as part of the China Birth Cohort Study (CBCS). Dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores with 23 food components were constructed through dietary intakes collected via a reliable 108-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. HG was defined as a pregnancy-unique quantification of emesis (PUQE) score ≥13 points, severe nausea and vomiting leading to weight loss ≥5%, or being hospitalized for treatment due to the disease. The relationship between DII and HG was conducted utilizing binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression. (3) Results: Overall, 8.2% (n = 167) of study participants had HG. The DII scores ranged from −4.04 to 3.82. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with the highest tertile of DII score had a higher risk of HG (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.62, Ptrend = 0.032). Such an association was stronger in those with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (Pinteraction = 0.018). (4) Conclusions: A higher DII score, which serves as a marker for a diet promoting inflammation, is correlated with an elevated risk of developing HG. This finding suggests that dietary recommendations for HG should focus on minimizing the DII through incorporating foods abundant in anti-inflammatory components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition))
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18 pages, 2174 KiB  
Article
Association between Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy and Children’s Neurodevelopment: A Birth Cohort Study
by Jiajun Ouyang, Wenjin Cai, Penggui Wu, Juan Tong, Guopeng Gao, Shuangqin Yan, Fangbiao Tao and Kun Huang
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101530 - 19 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2911
Abstract
Background: Research studies have showed that maternal diet may influence fetal neurodevelopment, but most studies have only assessed single nutrients or food groups. Objective: To investigate the impact of maternal prenatal dietary patterns during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment. Methods: Study participants were obtained [...] Read more.
Background: Research studies have showed that maternal diet may influence fetal neurodevelopment, but most studies have only assessed single nutrients or food groups. Objective: To investigate the impact of maternal prenatal dietary patterns during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment. Methods: Study participants were obtained from the China National Birth Cohort. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition, was used to assess children’s neurodevelopment at 36 months old. Maternal antenatal dietary data were collected over three trimesters using food frequency questionnaires. Five distinct maternal dietary patterns throughout pregnancy were identified by principal component analysis, namely protein- and micronutrient-rich dietary patterns, low-iron dietary patterns, pasta as the staple food dietary patterns, iron-rich dietary patterns, tubers, fruits, and baked food dietary patterns. Group-based trajectory modeling was performed for dietary patterns present in all three periods. Multiple linear regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: Children of mothers who followed a high protein- and micronutrient-rich dietary pattern trajectory during pregnancy presented better neurodevelopment, including higher gross motor and problem-solving scores. Furthermore, it was observed that children born of women with low-iron dietary patterns had poorer neurodevelopment. In detail, children born to mothers with a low-iron dietary pattern during the first trimester had lower problem-solving scores, while to those who were exposed to a low-iron dietary pattern in the second and third trimesters had lower gross motor scores. Additionally, children with mothers who had a low-iron dietary pattern in the third trimester had lower communication scores. Conclusions: A nutrition-balanced protein- and micronutrient-rich dietary pattern and adequate iron dietary pattern for mothers throughout pregnancy may be beneficial to children’s neurodevelopment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition))
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16 pages, 671 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Maternal Plant-Based Diet on Obstetric and Neonatal Outcomes—A Cross-Sectional Study
by Paulina Przybysz, Adrian Kruszewski, Joanna Kacperczyk-Bartnik and Ewa Romejko-Wolniewicz
Nutrients 2023, 15(22), 4717; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224717 - 8 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4161
Abstract
Background: In the last decades, plant-based diets have gained popularity. Pregnancy is not a contraindication to follow a meat-free diet. This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between women who followed a plant-based diet with those on an omnivore diet. Our [...] Read more.
Background: In the last decades, plant-based diets have gained popularity. Pregnancy is not a contraindication to follow a meat-free diet. This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between women who followed a plant-based diet with those on an omnivore diet. Our second purpose was to investigate the association between physical activity level in combination with diet type and the occurrence of GDM and gestational hypertension. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed electronically via social media. The survey was conducted on a population of Polish women. Results: The final research group included 1015 women. The results showed that a maternal plant-based diet 6 months before pregnancy and during pregnancy does not change the incidence of GDM, anemia, and gestational hypertension. Moreover, no association was found between a diet type before conception and a delivery method or newborn birth weight. Among women who followed an omnivore diet, the risk of GDM was lower in a group with adequate physical activity during 6 months before conception (p = 0.0166). However, the combination of a plant-based diet with adequate activity during the preconception period did not influence GDM incidence. Conclusions: Our study indicates that a plant-based diet during the preconception period is not worse than an omnivore diet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition))
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11 pages, 876 KiB  
Article
Vitamin D Intake and Serum Levels in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
by Laila Meija, Anna Piskurjova, Ksenija Nikolajeva, Olga Aizbalte, Roberta Rezgale, Aivars Lejnieks and Vinita Cauce
Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3493; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153493 - 7 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2687
Abstract
Maternal vitamin D deficiency, which is highly prevalent in pregnant women in Europe, is linked to adverse health effects for both the mother and child. The objective was to assess vitamin D status in pregnant women by evaluating their dietary and supplemental vitamin [...] Read more.
Maternal vitamin D deficiency, which is highly prevalent in pregnant women in Europe, is linked to adverse health effects for both the mother and child. The objective was to assess vitamin D status in pregnant women by evaluating their dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake, serum vitamin D levels, parathyroid hormone levels, and lifestyle factors. This cross-sectional study, with a total of 735 participants (145 pregnant and 590 up to the seventh day postpartum), took place in Latvia. Blood samples, a food frequency questionnaire, and medical documentation were used for data collection. The median serum vitamin D concentration was 34.0 ng/mL, with pregnant women having higher levels (42.9 ng/mL) than postpartum women (31.8 ng/mL). There was no association between vitamin D serum concentration and dietary intake of vitamin D (p > 0.05), whereas there was a significant correlation with use of vitamin D supplements (r = 0.41; p < 0.001 in pregnant women and r = 0.35; p < 0.001 in postpartum women). This study demonstrated that a minority of pregnant women (21.9%) had optimal serum vitamin D concentration (>45 ng/mL), and diet had no significant impact on vitamin D levels. Thus, our proposed recommendation for vitamin D intake during pregnancy was 63 mcg (2500 IU) year-round for optimal levels in pregnant women in Northeastern Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Lactation (2nd Edition))
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