Maternal Nutrition and Fetal Programming

Dear Colleagues,

Maternal nutrition plays a vital role in fetal development and growth. Nutritional insults during the critical windows of development, namely in pregnancy, may have long-term consequences on development, predisposing the offspring to several pathological conditions in postnatal life. This fetal programming, which permanently changes offspring physiology, has been associated with mental health problems.

Dietary imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and maternal supplements during gestation may influence brain development during this sensitive developmental period, reshape brain structure and function, and program progeny susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders.

With this in mind, we would like to invite the submission of original articles and reviews addressing the impact of maternal nutritional status and maternal diets during pregnancy on progeny development and its association with neurodevelopmental disorders.  Further insights on potential underlying mechanisms as neuroinflammation, gut microbiome changes, and fetal genetic programming are appreciated.

Dr. Filipa I. Baptista
Dr. Joana Gonçalves
Guest Editors

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