Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.1
5.0
Journals
Nutrients
Special Issues
Maternal Nutrition: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
nutrients-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Maternal Nutrition: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 756

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 Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the concept of DOHaD (developmental origins of health and disease) has gained significant global attention as a crucial framework for understanding how maternal nutrition influences the health and disease risk of the next generation. It is now well established that the intrauterine environment plays a pivotal role in shaping the future development of lifestyle-related diseases and psychiatric disorders in offspring. Research in this field is actively being conducted not only by healthcare professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and nutritionists, but also by researchers in interdisciplinary fields, including social sciences and bioethics. Furthermore, DOHaD research is expected to expand in the coming years, particularly in relation to preconception care, emphasizing the importance of maternal health even before pregnancy.

As global birth rates decline and populations continue to age, it is increasingly vital to explore how DOHaD-based research can contribute to protecting the health of future generations. This Special Issue aims to provide valuable insights into the impact of maternal nutrition during pregnancy, spanning basic science, clinical applications, and public health perspectives.

We invite manuscript submissions, including original research articles and systematic reviews, covering a broad spectrum of topics from molecular mechanisms to epidemiological and clinical studies.

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

  • DOHaD (developmental origins of health and disease)
  • maternal nutrition
  • pregnancy
  • lifestyle-related diseases
  • psychiatric disorders
  • fetal development
  • preconception care
  • interdisciplinary research
  • interdisciplinary research
  • pregnancy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 252 KB  
Article
Breastfeeding and Sociodemographic Determinants: Evidence from the “MAMI-MED” Cohort
by Giuliana Favara, Andrea Maugeri, Martina Barchitta, Roberta Magnano San Lio, Maria Clara La Rosa, Claudia La Mastra, Erminia Di Liberto, Fabiola Galvani, Elisa Pappalardo, Carla Ettore, Giuseppe Ettore and Antonella Agodi
Nutrients 2025, 17(16), 2702; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17162702 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 363
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Breastfeeding is key to maternal and child health, but adherence to WHO recommendations varies worldwide and is influenced by several maternal and paternal factors. In this study, we aim to describe the prevalence of breastfeeding practices and adherence to WHO guidelines [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Breastfeeding is key to maternal and child health, but adherence to WHO recommendations varies worldwide and is influenced by several maternal and paternal factors. In this study, we aim to describe the prevalence of breastfeeding practices and adherence to WHO guidelines among women, and to explore the maternal and paternal characteristics associated with these practices. Methods: Data were obtained from the “MAMI-MED” cohort, which included women enrolled during the first trimester of pregnancy at ARNAS Garibaldi Nesima in Catania (Italy). Breastfeeding practices and parental characteristics were assessed through interviews conducted at 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Results: The analyses involved 1312 women enrolled between December 2020 and October 2023. Mothers who breastfed, particularly those who exclusively breastfed for the first six months, showed a more favorable socioeconomic profile. Women with a medium (OR = 1.781; 95% CI: 1.258–2.521; p = 0.001) and high level of education (OR = 3.892; 95% CI: 2.255–6.718; p < 0.001), as well as those who had a spontaneous delivery (OR = 1.461; 95% CI: 1.090–1.958; p = 0.011), were more likely to breastfeed. Similarly, adherence to WHO recommendations was higher among women with a medium (OR = 2.144; 95% CI: 1.339–3.433; p = 0.002) and high education levels (OR = 2.611; 95% CI: 1.489–4.580; p < 0.001), non-smokers (OR = 2.256; 95% CI: 1.158–4.395; p = 0.017), and those with adequate gestational weight gain (OR = 1.506; 95% CI: 1.035–2.189; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Sociodemographic and behavioral factors, particularly maternal education, smoking status, mode of delivery, and gestational weight gain, significantly influence breastfeeding practices and adherence to WHO recommendations. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to support breastfeeding, especially among women with less favorable socioeconomic profiles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maternal Nutrition: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-1
Back to TopTop