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Influence of Maternal Diet and Environmental Factors on Fetal Development

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 August 2024) | Viewed by 16014

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Interests: lipids and brain development; fatty acid uptake system in human placenta; angiogenesis; feto-placental growth and development; DHA and cell growth and proliferation; lipid nutrition; eicosanoids; cardiovascular health; platelet function
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A maternal diet can affect fetal development. During pregnancy, the composition of the maternal gut microbiota, and changes to that composition, has significant consequences for fetal development and adult health. A complex association between early gut microbiota composition and its long-term effects on adult health issues has been reported. Many factors, such as maternal diet, BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, metabolic diseases, ethnicity, and geographic and environmental factors, modulate the maternal–fetal microbiota. The maternal commensal microbes or their products are transferred to the fetus through the placenta in utero and postnatally. There they affect the composition of the fetal/neonatal intestinal microbial community. Establishing healthy early gut microbiota has long-lasting effects on the offspring’s metabolism and immune system. A healthy maternal diet significantly impacts healthy maternal gut microbiota, which, in turn, affects the formation of the fetal/newborn intestinal microbiota. Beneficial effects of prenatal pro- and prebiotic treatment on offspring’s health are known, although detailed studies regarding the type, dosage, and timing of pro-/prebiotic intake during pregnancy are required.

Despite the convincing results, some critical points and significant evidence still need to be included. Therefore, this Special Issue invites articles on maternal gut microbiota and fetal and neonatal development and health. In addition, reports are requested on the maternal dietary factors and other potential modulators of the maternal–fetal microbiota axis during pregnancy, impacting offspring’s microbiota and health.

Prof. Dr. Asim K. Duttaroy
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • pregnancy
  • maternal diet
  • fetal development
  • gut microbiota
  • offspring

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 205 KiB  
Editorial
Influence of Maternal Diet and Environmental Factors on Fetal Development
by Asim K. Duttaroy
Nutrients 2023, 15(19), 4094; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194094 - 22 Sep 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3910
Abstract
This Special Issue of Nutrients, “Influence of Maternal Diet and Environmental Factors on Fetal Development”, requests articles on the roles of maternal diet and environmental factors such as microbiota, plastics, and endocrine disruptive chemicals impact fetal development [...] Full article

Research

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14 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Fish Consumption and DHA Supplementation during Pregnancy: Study of Gestational and Neonatal Outcomes
by Paola Gualtieri, Giulia Frank, Rossella Cianci, Francesca Dominici, Ilenia Mappa, Giuseppe Rizzo, Gemma Lou De Santis, Giulia Bigioni and Laura Di Renzo
Nutrients 2024, 16(18), 3051; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183051 - 10 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4183
Abstract
Several studies have explored the association between fish consumption during pregnancy and favorable neonatal outcomes, although some yield conflicting results. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends two to three servings of low-mercury fish per week for pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, [...] Read more.
Several studies have explored the association between fish consumption during pregnancy and favorable neonatal outcomes, although some yield conflicting results. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends two to three servings of low-mercury fish per week for pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, fish can be a source of pollutants, like methylmercury, impacting neurological development. Conflicting studies on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation exist in the literature, possibly due to varied supplement dosages. This survey, involving 501 women, investigated fish consumption and DHA supplement intake concerning gestational and neonatal outcomes. Notably, 92.1% of participants consumed fish weekly, with significant differences observed in gestational weight gain, birth weight, and length for those eating fish ≥3 times weekly compared to non-consumers. This study supports the recommendation for pregnant women to include fish in their diet while limiting exposure to environmental pollutants. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements are suggested to attain nutritional benefits without mercury risk. Full article

Review

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14 pages, 1197 KiB  
Review
Maternal Gut Microbiome-Mediated Epigenetic Modifications in Cognitive Development and Impairments: A New Frontier for Therapeutic Innovation
by Shabnam Nohesara, Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky, Faith Dickerson, Adrián A. Pinto-Tomás, Dilip V. Jeste and Sam Thiagalingam
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4355; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244355 - 17 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1267
Abstract
Cognitive impairment in various mental illnesses, particularly neuropsychiatric disorders, has adverse functional and clinical consequences. While genetic mutations and epigenetic dysregulations of several genes during embryonic and adult periods are linked to cognitive impairment in mental disorders, the composition and diversity of resident [...] Read more.
Cognitive impairment in various mental illnesses, particularly neuropsychiatric disorders, has adverse functional and clinical consequences. While genetic mutations and epigenetic dysregulations of several genes during embryonic and adult periods are linked to cognitive impairment in mental disorders, the composition and diversity of resident bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract—shaped by environmental factors—also influence the brain epigenome, affecting behavior and cognitive functions. Accordingly, many recent studies have provided evidence that human gut microbiota may offer a potential avenue for improving cognitive deficits. In this review, we provide an overview of the relationship between cognitive impairment, alterations in the gut microbiome, and epigenetic alterations during embryonic and adult periods. We examine how various factors beyond genetics—such as lifestyle, age, and maternal diet—impact the composition, diversity, and epigenetic functionality of the gut microbiome, consequently influencing cognitive performance. Additionally, we explore the potential of maternal gut microbiome signatures and epigenetic biomarkers for predicting cognitive impairment risk in older adults. This article also explores the potential roles of nutritional deficiencies in programming cognitive disorders during the perinatal period in offspring, as well as the promise of gut microbiome-targeted therapeutics with epigenetic effects to prevent or alleviate cognitive dysfunctions in infants, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Unsolved challenges of gut microbiome-targeted therapeutics in mitigating cognitive dysfunctions for translation into clinical practice are discussed, lastly. Full article
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34 pages, 2074 KiB  
Review
Placental Epigenome Impacts Fetal Development: Effects of Maternal Nutrients and Gut Microbiota
by Sanjay Basak, Rahul Mallick, Boga Navya Sree and Asim K. Duttaroy
Nutrients 2024, 16(12), 1860; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121860 - 13 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5015
Abstract
Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by transgenerationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for gestation-related exposure, burden, or disease [...] Read more.
Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by transgenerationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for gestation-related exposure, burden, or disease risk. Such biomarkers are essential for developing tools for the early detection of risk factors and exposure levels. It is necessary to establish an exposure threshold due to nutrient deficiencies or other environmental factors that can result in clinically relevant epigenetic alterations that modulate disease risks in the fetus. This narrative review summarizes the latest updates on the roles of maternal nutrients (n-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) and gut microbiota on the placental epigenome and its impacts on fetal brain development. This review unravels the potential roles of the functional epigenome for targeted intervention to ensure optimal fetal brain development and its performance in later life. Full article
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