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Nutrients
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Dietary Recommendations for Gynecological Diseases and Pregnancy Complications
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Dietary Recommendations for Gynecological Diseases and Pregnancy Complications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 10880

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Laura Sarno

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Interests: maternal nutrition; high-risk pregnancy; fetal growth restriction; pre-eclampsia; metabolomics; placenta

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A woman’s life is characterized by several endocrinological changes during transitional phases such as puberty, menarche, pregnancy, and menopause. There is growing evidence that dietary habits can help regulate these changes. Nutrition plays a key role in gynecological diseases such as leiomyoma, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menstrual disorders, and gynecological malignancies. Moreover, maternal nutrition during pregnancy can affect pregnancy and perinatal outcomes, and it can drive epigenetic changes, influencing susceptibility to several diseases. Therefore, obstetricians and gynecologists should integrate dietary recommendations into their patients’ daily care.

We welcome various contributions (original articles and reviews) on the following topics:

  1. Recent evidence supporting specific dietary recommendations for gynecological disorders and pregnancy complications;
  2. Current available recommendations for gynecological diseases and pregnancy complications and existing geographical differences;
  3. Specialist knowledge and training strategies for women’s nutrition in different transitional phases.

Dr. Laura Sarno
Guest Editor

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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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • women’s nutrition
  • dietary recommendation
  • gynecological diseases
  • pregnancy complications
  • supplementation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2210 KB  
Article
Association of Mediterranean Diet Scores with Psychological Distress in Pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
by Yuri Takahashi, Zen Watanabe, Noriyuki Iwama, Natsumi Kumagai, Hirotaka Hamada, Hikaru Karumai-Mori, Seiya Izumi, Emi Yokoyama, Yasuno Takahashi, Takeki Sato, Jumpei Toratani, Kazuma Tagami, Hasumi Tomita, Masahito Tachibana, Mami Ishikuro, Taku Obara, Hirohito Metoki, Tomohisa Suzuki, Yuichiro Miura, Chiharu Ota, Shinichi Kuriyama, Takahiro Arima, Nobuo Yaegashi, Masatoshi Saito and The Japan Environment and Children’s Study Groupadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3697; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233697 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Perinatal mental disorders are important health issues that affect both mothers and their children. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is one of the most well-recognized healthy dietary patterns worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that MD may prevent or reduce the risk of perinatal mental [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Perinatal mental disorders are important health issues that affect both mothers and their children. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is one of the most well-recognized healthy dietary patterns worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that MD may prevent or reduce the risk of perinatal mental disorders. This study investigated the association between MD adherence during pregnancy and psychological distress in a large cohort of Japanese births. Methods: Data were obtained from 80,271 pregnant women who participated in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. Adherence to the MD was assessed using three scoring methods: the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), relative Mediterranean Diet (rMED), and Mediterranean Diet Score for Pregnancy (PMDS). Psychological distress was defined as a score of ≥13 on the Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated to quantify the proportion of psychological distress attributable to low MD adherence. Results: The adjusted RR for psychological distress in the low PMDS group was 1.17 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.28) compared with the high PMDS group. The adjusted PAF for low PMDS was 10.43% (95% CI: 4.81, 16.06). No statistically significant associations were detected between psychological distress and the MDS or rMED scores. Conclusions: This study suggests that high adherence to MD based on the PMDS during pregnancy may reduce the risk of psychological distress in Japanese women. Therefore, promoting MD during pregnancy could be a potential strategy for preventing perinatal mental disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Recommendations for Gynecological Diseases and Pregnancy Complications)
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10 pages, 764 KB  
Article
Do Italian ObGyn Residents Have Enough Knowledge to Counsel Women About Nutritional Facts? Results of an On-Line Survey
by Laura Sarno, Dario Colacurci, Eleonora Ranieri, Rossella E. Nappi and Maurizio Guida
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101654 - 13 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1286
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Nutrition plays a key role in gynecologic conditions, pregnancy, and perinatal outcomes; therefore, nutritional counseling is essential in obstetric and gynecologic care. The present study aimed to delineate Italian Obstetrics and Gynecology (ObGyn) residents’ awareness of women’s nutrition and supplementation in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Nutrition plays a key role in gynecologic conditions, pregnancy, and perinatal outcomes; therefore, nutritional counseling is essential in obstetric and gynecologic care. The present study aimed to delineate Italian Obstetrics and Gynecology (ObGyn) residents’ awareness of women’s nutrition and supplementation in different stages of life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey about women’s nutrition and supplementation use throughout their lifetime. A 31-item survey questionnaire was distributed to Italian ObGyn Residents. Results: 258 Italian ObGyn Residents completed the online survey. About 40% of the responders considered their knowledge of women’s nutritional needs poor or very poor. A total of 226 residents (88%) declared that there is not enough time dedicated to women’s nutrition during their specialty program, and almost all the trainees would consider training in this area helpful for achieving a better professional profile. A total of 128 participants (49.6%) demonstrated insufficient knowledge in this field. Most (97.1%) of the responding trainees recommend supplementation during different stages of women’s lives. Conclusions: Italian ObGyn residents are not very skilled in women’s nutrition. There is an urgent need to develop specific training and interventions to educate our ObGyn residents about the importance of improving nutritional habits in patient care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Recommendations for Gynecological Diseases and Pregnancy Complications)
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Review

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19 pages, 932 KB  
Review
Targeting Uterine Quiescence: A Multitarget Strategy with Vitamin D, High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid, Magnesium, and Palmitoylethanolamide to Prevent Preterm Birth
by Ilenia Mappa, Giuseppina Porcaro, Martina Derme and Giuseppe Rizzo
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010113 - 29 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1000
Abstract
Maintaining a quiescent uterus until labor is of utmost importance for a successful pregnancy and still represents the most challenging issue in clinical practice. Despite the existence of standard approaches (short-term use of tocolytic agents or preventive use of vaginal progesterone), whose efficacy [...] Read more.
Maintaining a quiescent uterus until labor is of utmost importance for a successful pregnancy and still represents the most challenging issue in clinical practice. Despite the existence of standard approaches (short-term use of tocolytic agents or preventive use of vaginal progesterone), whose efficacy is still controversial, several natural molecules have garnered attention in recent years as an effective therapeutic approach in high-risk pregnancies and beyond. Despite inflammatory activation, premature contractility depends on several factors, since myometrial quiescence is a complex mechanism not fully understood. Therefore, the synergistic activity of different natural molecules could be an innovative approach for acting simultaneously and maintaining uterine quiescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Recommendations for Gynecological Diseases and Pregnancy Complications)
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Other

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13 pages, 1017 KB  
Systematic Review
Systematic Review of Nutritional Guidelines for the Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Global Comparison
by Angelo Sirico, Maria Giovanna Vastarella, Eleonora Ruggiero and Luigi Cobellis
Nutrients 2025, 17(14), 2356; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17142356 - 18 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 7156
Abstract
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects 7–9% of pregnancies worldwide and is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Nutritional therapy is a key component of GDM management. However, inconsistencies exist across international and national guidelines regarding macronutrient distribution, glycemic targets, and micronutrient [...] Read more.
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects 7–9% of pregnancies worldwide and is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Nutritional therapy is a key component of GDM management. However, inconsistencies exist across international and national guidelines regarding macronutrient distribution, glycemic targets, and micronutrient supplementation. This systematic review aims to compare updated nutritional recommendations for GDM across major health organizations and identify areas of consensus, divergence, and evidence gaps. Methods: This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251026194). A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (concluding March 2025), along with manual searches of official websites of professional health organizations (e.g., ADA, WHO, NICE, IDF). Guidelines published within the last 10 years (or the most relevant national guideline if slightly older), available in English or with access to translation, and including explicit nutritional recommendations for GDM were included. Data were extracted on macronutrient composition, glycemic targets, and micronutrient supplementation, with evaluation of the supporting evidence and regional context, incorporating findings from recent key guideline updates. Results: In total, 12 guidelines met the inclusion criteria. While all guidelines emphasized carbohydrate moderation and adequate fiber intake, significant discrepancies were found in carbohydrate quality recommendations (e.g., low-glycemic index focus vs. total carbohydrate restriction), postprandial glucose targets (e.g., 1-h vs. 2-h measurements and varying thresholds like <120 vs. <140 mg/dL), and the use of non-routine micronutrients such as chromium, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids (generally lacking endorsement). Recent updates from key bodies like ADA, Diabetes Canada, and KDA largely maintain these core stances but show increasing emphasis on dietary patterns and acknowledgement of CGM technology, without resolving key discrepancies. Cultural adaptability and behavioral counselling strategies were minimally addressed across most guidelines. Conclusions: Despite general agreement on the principal recommendations of nutritional management in GDM, substantial variation persists in specific recommendations, even considering recent updates. Consistent, evidence-based, and culturally adaptable guidelines incorporating implementation strategies are needed to optimize care and reduce disparities in GDM management across regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Recommendations for Gynecological Diseases and Pregnancy Complications)
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