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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 9179

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Angela Vinturache

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Guest Editor

1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2. Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Interests: obesity in pregnancy; gestational diabetes; nutrition in pregnancy; gestational weight gain; pregnancy outcomes
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Diet and nutrition play an essential role in reproductive health. A healthy, balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients combined with an adequate lifestyle help to maintain optimal reproductive health in both men and women, as well as to improve fertility and the chances of the conception of a healthy pregnancy. Furthermore, women's nutritional status and lifestyle prior and during pregnancy is paramount for the development and growth of the offspring and pregnancy health. This Special Issue aims to publish a variety of manuscript formats that include reviews, editorials, opinions, original research, and experts’ opinions on all aspects of reproductive health, including fertility, menopause, and pregnancy from preconception to pregnancy and delivery. We invite papers with focuses on diet, nutrition, and lifestyle recommendations for a healthy reproductive function and pregnancy. We also invite papers which investigate the role of nutrition and lifestyle in gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and other pregnancy complications, as well as in infertility, PCOS, and endometriosis. Articles examining the role of substance use in reproductive function will also be considered.

We would consider qualitative and quantitative research of everyday situations, questions, and challenges that men and women face in attempting to maintain healthy nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Examining such questions could provide answers to aid healthcare professionals in the nutrition-based counselling during reproductive life.

Dr. Angela Vinturache
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nutrition
lifestyle
diet
weight
BMI
obesity
reproductive health
fertility
infertility
pregnancy
menopause

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inadequate Calcium and Vitamin D Intake Among Japanese Women During the Perinatal Period: A Cross-Sectional Study with Bone Health Assessment

by Ryoko Ichikawa, Megumi Shibata, Yuko Nakura, Katsumi Iizuka, Kazuhiro Uenishi, Takao Sekiya, Atsushi Suzuki and Haruki Nishizawa

Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061075 - 19 Mar 2025

Viewed by 400

Abstract

Objectives: We previously reported a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D (25OHD < 20 ng/mL) in Japanese pregnant women with threatened premature delivery. This study aimed to assess nutritional status and its relationship with bone-related markers and microarchitecture, as measured using quantitative ultrasonography (QUS), in Japanese women during the perinatal period. Methods: We recruited Japanese women who had just delivered at Fujita Health University Hospital (n = 103, cesarean/vaginal delivery = 50/53, age 33.9 ± 4.9 years). On the third day postpartum, their calcaneal QUS was measured, and fasting blood samples were collected. Results: The mean total energy intake (1720 ± 298 kcal/day) was lower than the normal range for Japanese women (2100 kcal/day). Their calcium intake (446 ± 130 mg/day) was significantly below the recommended daily intake (RDI) in Japan (660 mg/day), with 95% of participants consuming less than the RDI. Although the average vitamin D intake (8.7 ± 1.8 μg/day) met the Japanese RDI (8.5 μg/day), 36% of participants consumed less than the RDI. Calcium intake was positively associated with the intake of lipids, protein, and vitamins A, D, and K. Additionally, calcium intake but not vitamin D intake tended to correlate with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels. The QUS indices showed no significant association with calcium or vitamin D intake. Conclusions: During the perinatal period, Japanese women had low calcium intake and relatively low vitamin D intake, accompanied by reduced 25OHD levels. These findings highlight the need for public health recommendations and policies to promote adequate calcium and vitamin D intake during pregnancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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15 pages, 2263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Vitamin E Intake and Voluntary Wheel Running on Whole-Body and Skeletal Muscle Metabolism in Ovariectomized Mice

by Youngyun Jin, Hee-Jung Yoon, Ki-Woong Park, Hanall Lee, Yuan Tan, Byung-Jun Ryu, Seung-Min Lee, Chae-Eun Cho, Jae-Geun Kim, Nam-Ah Kim and Young-Min Park

Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17060991 - 12 Mar 2025

Viewed by 460

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Ovariectomized rodents experience metabolic dysfunction in whole-body and skeletal muscle. A disrupted balance between oxidative stress and antioxidants might exacerbate metabolic dysfunction in ovariectomized rodents. Dietary antioxidants, such as vitamin E intake, before or during exercise would be beneficial by mitigating the exercise-induced increase in oxidative stress in ovariectomized rodents. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the potential effect of vitamin E intake combined with voluntary exercise on whole-body and skeletal muscle metabolism in ovariectomized mice. Methods: This study used C57BL/6J wild-type female mice (n = 40, 8 weeks old), which were randomly assigned into sham (SHM), ovariectomy (OVX), ovariectomy with exercise (OVXVE), ovariectomy with vitamin E (OVXV), ovariectomy with exercise and vitamin E (OVXVE) groups. Body composition, resting metabolic rate, glucose tolerance, skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, and protein contents were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, indirect calorimetry, glucose tolerance test, O₂K OROBOROS, and Western blot, respectively. Results: The combined treatment of vitamin E and voluntary wheel running did not show a beneficial effect on whole-body metabolism such as fat mass, energy expenditure, and glucose tolerance. However, independent of exercise intervention, vitamin E intake enhanced mitochondrial function, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC1-a), and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels and also reduced oxidative stress in the skeletal muscles of ovariectomized mice. Specifically, in the soleus muscle, vitamin E intake enhanced mitochondrial function and PGC1-a content (p < 0.05). In the gastrocnemius muscle, vitamin E intake enhanced PGC1-a and AMPK levels and reduced a marker of oxidative stress (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Vitamin E, as a potent antioxidant, may play a crucial role in maintaining skeletal muscle health in ovariectomized mice. More studies are necessary to investigate whether this finding is applicable to women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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13 pages, 397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Validation of the Italian Pregnancy Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (ItPreNKQ): A Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Pregnant Italian Women

by Silvia Callegaro, Elena Bertolotti, Christine Tita Kaihura, Andrea Dall’Asta, Francesca Scazzina and Alice Rosi

Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050901 - 4 Mar 2025

Viewed by 707

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy exerts a significant influence on both maternal and foetal health, as well as long-term child development. Despite its importance, adherence to dietary guidelines among pregnant women remains low. The present study aimed to develop and validate the Italian Pregnancy Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (ItPreNKQ), based on national dietary guidelines for the pregnant Italian population, assessing its reliability and validity. Methods: The ItPreNKQ comprised 15 questions covering key topics on nutrition during pregnancy. The questionnaire was validated through item analysis (difficulty and discrimination indices), construct validity, internal consistency, and reliability tests. Results: A total of 145 pregnant Italian women participated in the study. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed through a Pearson’s correlation of R = 0.790 and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.682, indicating strong temporal stability and acceptable internal consistency. Despite good overall performance, the mean knowledge score was 10.6 ± 2.5 out of 15, indicating significant knowledge gaps in specific topics. Conclusions: The ItPreNKQ has been demonstrated to be a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of nutrition knowledge among pregnant Italian women. The tool could be used for assessing nutritional knowledge in prenatal education settings and could be administered in future studies aimed at evaluating the impact of nutritional interventions among pregnant women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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11 pages, 3006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Demographic Determinant Factors for Serum Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Selenium Concentrations Among U.S. Women of Childbearing Age

by Anqi Peng, Peipei Hu, Chutian Shi, Angela Vinturache, Guodong Ding and Yongjun Zhang

Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4243; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234243 - 9 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1040

Abstract

Background: Trace elements (TEs) are essential nutrients for the human body and have a significant impact on fertility and hormone levels in women of reproductive age, underscoring the importance of understanding sociodemographic variations in their concentrations within this population. Objective: To investigate the socio-demographic factors influencing blood concentrations of four essential TEs, including iron, zinc, copper, and selenium among women of reproductive age. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of women aged 20–44 years was performed using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2018. Serum iron data were analyzed for 9211 women across 10 cycles, while serum copper, zinc, and selenium data were available for 1027 women across 3 cycles. Generalized linear and logistic regressions examined the individual associations of socio-demographic factors, including age, race and ethnicity, education, and poverty index ratio, with iron, zinc, copper, and selenium concentrations treated as continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively. A qualitative heatmap explored the joint associations between the socio-demographic factors and the four essential TEs. Results: Reduced iron concentrations and increased risks of insufficiency occurred in older, Black, low-education, or low-income women. Black women were more likely to have lower zinc and selenium concentrations and an increased risk of zinc insufficiency but higher copper concentrations. The qualitative heatmap found that older, Black, low-education, and low-income women generally had lower concentrations of the four TEs, particularly iron (β = −0.10; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Socially disadvantaged women are more likely to present with lower TE concentrations, and these specific population groups should be targeted by replenishment planning by public health initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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20 pages, 4439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Transcriptomics and Single-Nucleus Multi-Omics Analysis Revealing the Impact of High Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation on Offspring Brain Development

by Xiguang Xu, Yu Lin, Liduo Yin, Priscila da Silva Serpa, Benjamin Conacher, Christina Pacholec, Francisco Carvallo, Terry Hrubec, Shannon Farris, Kurt Zimmerman, Xiaobin Wang and Hehuang Xie

Nutrients 2024, 16(22), 3820; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223820 - 7 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1533

Abstract

Background: Folate, an essential vitamin B9, is crucial for diverse biological processes, including neurogenesis. Folic acid (FA) supplementation during pregnancy is a standard practice for preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). However, concerns are growing over the potential risks of excessive maternal FA intake. Objectives/Methods: Here, we employed a mouse model and spatial transcriptomic and single-nucleus multi-omics approaches to investigate the impact of high maternal FA supplementation during the periconceptional period on offspring brain development. Results: Maternal high FA supplementation affected gene pathways linked to neurogenesis and neuronal axon myelination across multiple brain regions, as well as gene expression alterations related to learning and memory in thalamic and ventricular regions. Single-nucleus multi-omics analysis revealed that maturing excitatory neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) are particularly vulnerable to high maternal FA intake, leading to aberrant gene expressions and chromatin accessibility in pathways governing ribosomal biogenesis critical for synaptic formation. Conclusions: Our findings provide new insights into specific brain regions, cell types, gene expressions and pathways that can be affected by maternal high FA supplementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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13 pages, 869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vitamin D Supply of Twins during Fetal Life, Its Relation to Anthropometric Parameters of Newborns and the Analysis of Other Factors Related to Birth Size

by Regina Ewa Wierzejska, Barbara Wojda, Dorota Agata Bomba-Opoń, Iga Rzucidło-Szymańska, Robert Brawura-Biskupski-Samaha and Iwona Szymusik

Nutrients 2024, 16(20), 3535; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16203535 - 18 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1159

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiencies are very common in pregnant women, raising concerns about adverse health outcomes in children. This issue has hardly been studied in multiple pregnancies, the prevalence of which has been steadily increasing. Therefore, our study investigated the relationship between newborns’ anthropometric parameters and the concentration of 25(OH)D in maternal blood of women with twin pregnancies and umbilical cord blood. Methods: The study included 50 women who gave birth after the 36th week of twin gestation. The concentration of 25(OH)D was determined in maternal blood collected during the antenatal period and in the umbilical cord blood of 100 newborns. Anthropometric parameters of the newborns (birth weight, length and head and chest circumference) were obtained from hospital records. Data on nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy were collected from the patients during an interview conducted by a dietitian. Results: No relationship between maternal and neonatal cord blood vitamin D concentrations and any of the anthropometric parameters of the newborns was found. However, only 6% of the mothers and 13% of the newborns had vitamin D deficiency (≤20 ng/mL). The type of pregnancy and maternal height were the main factors associated with neonatal size. Newborns from dichorionic pregnancies were on average 202 g heavier (p < 0.001) and 1 cm longer (p = 0.006) than newborns from monochorionic pregnancies. Newborns of mothers ≤160 cm in height had on average 206 g lower birth weight (p = 0.006) and were 3.5 cm shorter (p = 0.003) compared to newborns of taller mothers. Conclusions: Therefore, in our study, the neonatal size of twins was not related to the vitamin D status but to other factors such as the type of pregnancy and maternal height. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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Review

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26 pages, 1766 KiB

Open AccessReview

Breastfeeding: The Multifaceted Impact on Child Development and Maternal Well-Being

by Aleksandra Purkiewicz, Kamila J. Regin, Wajeeha Mumtaz and Renata Pietrzak-Fiećko

Nutrients 2025, 17(8), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081326 - 11 Apr 2025

Viewed by 661

Abstract

Breastfeeding is recognized as the gold standard in infant nutrition, providing necessary nutrients for optimal growth and development. Beyond its nutritional function, breastfeeding has numerous benefits for both mother and child. This literature review examines the effects of breastfeeding on the development of the nervous and immune systems, its influence on cognitive development, and the impact of stress on lactation. In addition, it explores the emotional effects of breastfeeding on mothers, the challenges associated with exclusive breastfeeding, and the process of weaning along with its implications for both mother and infant. It is indicated that stress significantly affects lactation regulation, with elevated cortisol levels potentially disrupting hormonal balance. Furthermore, the essential roles of oxytocin, sialic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid in infant brain development and cognitive functions are highlighted. Breastfeeding is associated with the regulation of the baby’s sleep through the effects of tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin, which at the same time provide the baby with a sense of security with the mother. It is indicated that women who breastfeed are less likely to suffer from mental health problems and are at a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The weaning process is often a difficult time for mother and child; thus, it should be introduced gradually to minimize stress, anxiety, and potential mood disturbances in the mother. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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Other

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28 pages, 3393 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Is Serum Vitamin D Associated with Depression or Anxiety in Ante- and Postnatal Adult Women? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

by Luis Otávio Lobo Centeno, Matheus dos Santos Fernandez, Francisco Wilker Mustafa Gomes Muniz, Aline Longoni and Adriano Martimbianco de Assis

Nutrients 2024, 16(21), 3648; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213648 - 26 Oct 2024

Viewed by 2290

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To collect evidence from studies that explored the associations between serum vitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations/status and the presence of depressive/anxiety symptoms in the ante- and/or postnatal periods (PROSPERO-CRD42023390895). Methods: Studies that assessed serum 25[OH]D concentrations in adult women during the ante/postnatal periods and those that used valid instruments to identify the experience/severity of depressive/anxiety symptoms were included. Independent researchers performed the identification/selection of studies, data extraction, risk of bias (RoB) assessment, and bibliometric analysis steps. Results: Of the total of 6769 eligible records, 15 cohort studies [high (n = 3), moderate (n = 7), and low (n = 5) RoB], nine cross-sectional studies [moderate (n = 3) and low (n = 6) RoB], and one case-control study [moderate RoB] were included (n = 25). Depression (n = 24) and anxiety (n = 4) symptoms were assessed. A significant difference in antenatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations between the groups of women with and without depression was identified (mean difference: −4.63 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: −8.88; −0.38). Postnatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations were found to be, on average, −2.36 ng/mL (95% CI: −4.59; −0.14) lower in women with postnatal depression than in those without. Maternal antenatal anxiety was associated with significantly lower concentrations/deficiency of 25[OH]D in only one included study. Conclusions: Based on very low/low-quality evidence, it was observed that reduced serum 25[OH]D concentrations in the ante- and postnatal period are associated with the presence of ante- and postnatal depressive symptoms, respectively. Low/deficient antenatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations may not be related to the presence of anxiety symptoms before childbirth. Well-designed longitudinal studies are needed to explore the estimated pooled effect of these associations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Maternal Nutrition and Reproductive Health)

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