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Effects of Nutrition and Exercise During Pregnancy on Maternal and Infant Health

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Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores the influence of nutrition and exercise during pregnancy and their influence on maternal and infant health outcomes. Pregnancy presents a unique physiological state in which dietary intake and physical activity interact with the maternal–fetal–placental unit, affecting offspring growth, development and long-term health trajectories. Contributions to this Special Issue aim to highlight rigorous scientific evidence on the effects of structured exercise interventions on the improvement of maternal cardiovascular fitness, metabolic function and psychological health, while balanced nutritional strategies support fetal growth, reduce pregnancy complications and optimize birth outcomes. Together, these studies may provide further insight into the synergistic role of exercise and nutrition in mitigating risks such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum recovery challenges. By integrating clinical, epidemiological and mechanistic perspectives, this Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence and future directions for advancing safe, effective, and individualized nutrition and exercise guidelines during pregnancy.

Dr. Samantha McDonald
Guest Editor

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18 pages, 392 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Activity During Pregnancy, Dietary Adequacy, and Energy-Dense, Nutrient-Poor Food and Beverage Intake: Associations with Preterm Birth

by Oana Liliana Atomei, Petronela Vicoveanu, Dragos Vicoveanu and Monica Tarcea

Nutrients 2026, 18(12), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18122030 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Maternal nutrition and physical activity are modifiable behaviours relevant to pregnancy outcomes, but higher activity may coexist with both favourable and unfavourable dietary patterns. This study examined associations between pregnancy physical activity, individualised fruit–vegetable adequacy, energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) food and beverage intake, and preterm birth. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1048 postpartum women with singleton live births recruited consecutively at a tertiary maternity hospital in Romania. Physical activity during the last three months of pregnancy was assessed using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and categorised into quartiles of total MET-hours/week. Dietary intake was assessed using an adapted food frequency questionnaire. Fruit–vegetable adequacy was evaluated against individualised recommendations, and EDNP intake was summarised using a composite score derived from fast food, sweets, chocolate, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Preterm birth was defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Results: Preterm birth occurred in 118 cases (11.3%). Higher physical activity categories showed greater fruit–vegetable intake and adequacy, but also higher EDNP intake. After adjustment for maternal age, pregestational BMI, parity, education, and income, physical activity category remained associated with all modelled dietary outcomes. Category 4 had higher odds of fruit–vegetable adequacy than category 1 (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.55–3.24). In diet-informed models, category 3 had the lowest odds of preterm birth (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.21–0.68). Conclusions: Total physical activity during pregnancy was associated with a complex dietary profile rather than a uniformly favourable lifestyle pattern. The lowest odds of preterm birth were observed in the third activity category, suggesting a non-linear association. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Nutrition and Exercise During Pregnancy on Maternal and Infant Health)

15 pages, 329 KB

Open AccessArticle

OLIDIAG Study: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Supplementation in the Diet of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus—A Randomized Clinical Trial

by Alicia Jawerbaum, Silvia Gorban de Lapertosa, Magdalena Rey, Inés Argerich, Mariano Reynoso, María Celeste Muntaner, Celina Bertona, Verónica Kojdamanian Favetto, Esteban Díaz, Stella Sucani and Dalmiro Gomez Ribot

Nutrients 2026, 18(7), 1120; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071120 - 31 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1821

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent metabolic disease associated with maternal and neonatal complications. Diets enriched with extra virgin olive oil may benefit metabolism and provide antioxidant effects. We aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with extra virgin olive oil on metabolic parameters and insulinization rate in women with GDM. Methods: This is a multicenter, parallel, randomized controlled trial in which 190 patients with GDM were enrolled before week 29 of gestation and randomized into the Control group and the Intervention group. Patients in the Intervention group received the indication to consume three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) daily. At term, metabolic parameters, insulin requirement and maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. Results: Control and Intervention groups showed no differences in maternal age (31.7 ± 6.0 and 32.4 ± 5.2 years, respectively) or gestational age (26.5 ± 3.6 and 26.7 ± 3.3 weeks, respectively) at enrollment. Primary outcomes showed that EVOO consumption was associated with a reduction in insulin requirement (RR 0.595, 95% CI 0.361–0.967, p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in triglyceridemia in the EVOO-supplemented group compared to controls (MD −43.3 mg/dL, 95% CI −66.8–−19.8, p < 0.01). There were no effects of the intervention on gestational weight gain. As secondary outcomes, maternal BMI and gestational age at delivery showed no changes between the groups. Although maternal and neonatal composite outcomes were not significantly reduced, the rate of neonates with more than one complication (RR 0.340, 95% CI 0.133–0.870, p < 0.05) and NICU requirement (RR 0.367, 95% CI 0.140–0.939, p < 0.05) were significantly reduced in the Intervention group. Conclusions: In GDM, maternal dietary supplementation with extra virgin olive oil resulted in reduction in maternal triglyceridemia, need of insulinization and neonatal complications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Nutrition and Exercise During Pregnancy on Maternal and Infant Health)

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