Search Results (276)

Background: Assessing overall diet quality has become increasingly important in nutritional epidemiology. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is one of the most widely used measures of diet quality; however, comparable data on Hungarian children are scarce. The current study aimed to assess the diet quality of Hungarian children using the Healthy Eating Index and to examine demographic factors associated with diet quality. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 666 children aged 4–10 years. Dietary intake was measured using three-day dietary records, and sociodemographic factors were collected via parental questionnaires. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020). For the statistical analysis, linear regression, random forest models and one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test were used. Results: The mean HEI score was 48.2 (SD 8.02), indicating low diet quality. Settlement type was significantly associated with the HEI score (p = 0.009). The multiplicity-corrected p-values for pairwise comparisons showed that children living in towns had significantly lower HEI scores (44.9, SD 7.97) than those living in county capitals (3.9, 95% CI:0.8–7.0, p = 0.006) and villages (−3.6, 95% CI: −0.61–−6.6, p = 0.011), but not significantly lower than those living in the capital (3.09, 95% CI: −0.25–6.4, p = 0.08). These differences were primarily related to whole-fruit and whole-grain component scores. Sex, age, and maternal education were not significantly associated with HEI score. The random forest model showed weak predictive performance (RMSE = 7.66). Conclusions: Diet quality among Hungarian children was generally suboptimal. The examined sociodemographic characteristics accounted for only a small proportion of the variability in the HEI score. This highlights the importance of ongoing research to understand dietary patterns and to uncover additional social, environmental, and behavioral aspects of dietary habits across cultures. Furthermore, the results indicate that interventions should also consider local food environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) among pregnant women with overweight is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Previous reviews have often combined women with overweight and obesity, limiting overweight-specific evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of lifestyle interventions on GWG among pregnant women with pre-pregnancy overweight. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2015 and December 2025. Eligible studies included pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years with pre-pregnancy overweight who received lifestyle interventions incorporating dietary and physical activity (PA) components compared with usual antenatal care. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for RCTs. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seventeen reports representing 15 unique RCTs involving 6256 participants were included in the systematic review, of whom 2216 were included in overweight subgroup analyses. Twelve studies contributing data from 1728 women with overweight were included in the meta-analysis. Common support strategies included behavioral support through goal setting and self-monitoring, as well as digital or remote follow-up. Lifestyle interventions were associated with a significant reduction in total GWG compared with usual antenatal care (MD = −1.44 kg; 95% CI: −2.34 to −0.55; p < 0.05). Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I² = 76%). Limitations included substantial heterogeneity in intervention characteristics, limited reporting of blinding procedures, and the relatively small number of studies available for subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions incorporating dietary and PA components were associated with significant reductions in GWG among pregnant women with overweight. These findings support the integration of lifestyle interventions into antenatal care to promote appropriate GWG. Further research is needed to identify the most effective intervention components and optimize intervention implementation in this population. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023473693. Full article

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including preterm birth, preeclampsia, low birth weight, recurrent miscarriage, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction, remain major threats to maternal and offspring health. Increasing evidence links the maternal microbiome to pregnancy health, but most studies have examined individual microbial niches rather than their interactions. The oral cavity and gut are anatomically and immunologically connected and form a bidirectional oral–gut microbiota axis through microbial trafficking, immune signaling, and metabolite-mediated feedback. Emerging studies suggested that oral dysbiosis, periodontal inflammation, and gut microbial remodeling were associated with APOs, although direct causal evidence in human pregnancy remains limited. This review summarizes pregnancy-related remodeling of the oral–gut microbiota axis, evaluates clinical and experimental evidence linking oral and gut dysbiosis to APOs, and discusses potential mechanisms, including microbial translocation, immune and inflammatory activation, metabolic remodeling, epigenetic regulation, and outer membrane vesicle-mediated signaling. Candidate biomarkers, probiotic and dietary intervention strategies, and current translational limitations are also discussed. Overall, the oral–gut microbiota axis offers a useful framework for understanding microbiome-associated APOs, but standardized sampling, longitudinal cohorts, and mechanistic validation are required before clinical application. Full article

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasingly prevalent metabolic disorder of pregnancy, driven by rising maternal age, obesity, and complex metabolic–inflammatory interactions. Emerging evidence implicates the maternal microbiome as a key modulator of metabolic adaptation during gestation; however, its precise role in GDM pathogenesis remains incompletely defined. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on microbiome alterations across gut, vaginal, and oral niches, focusing on their contribution to insulin resistance, metabolic endotoxemia, and immune dysregulation. GDM is consistently associated with reduced microbial diversity, depletion of beneficial taxa (e.g., Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium), and expansion of pro-inflammatory pathobionts, which collectively may impair intestinal barrier integrity and promote low-grade systemic inflammation. These mechanisms are linked to altered insulin signaling and adverse maternal–fetal outcomes. In parallel, microbiome-derived metabolites and early taxonomic signatures have been proposed as potential biomarkers for first-trimester risk stratification, offering an opportunity to overcome the limitations of late diagnostic approaches such as the oral glucose tolerance test. Despite these advances, most available evidence remains associative, with substantial heterogeneity across studies and limited mechanistic validation. The clinical utility of microbiome-based interventions—including dietary modulation, prebiotics, and probiotics—remains promising but inconclusive, with outcomes highly dependent on individual, microbial, and methodological factors. Overall, the maternal microbiome represents a compelling but still evolving target in GDM research. Future progress will depend on standardized methodologies, longitudinal multi-omics studies, and the development of precision medicine approaches capable of integrating microbial, metabolic, and host data. Such advances may enable earlier diagnosis, targeted prevention, and ultimately the disruption of intergenerational metabolic risk. Full article

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) represents a significant public health concern due to its association with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as elevated long-term metabolic risks. Its prevalence varies substantially depending on the diagnostic criteria used and the population studied. Women with GDM frequently experience heightened stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, underscoring the need for accessible information, counseling, and ongoing support to navigate glucose monitoring, dietary adjustments, and treatment regimens. Although clinical management has been extensively studied, research has largely focused on metabolic monitoring and therapeutic interventions, often underemphasizing prevention strategies, women’s informational needs, and maternal psychological well-being. Emerging evidence and international guidelines increasingly advocate for integrating these components into structured, woman-centered GDM care plans that actively involve families. Such approaches empower women to engage in self-management, enhance health literacy, support adherence to lifestyle and pharmacological interventions, and promote sustainable behavioral changes. This narrative review presents a comprehensive, holistic model of care across the perinatal continuum, emphasizing early risk identification, preventive strategies, and multidisciplinary coordination. Core elements include individualized antenatal education, empathetic communication, and family engagement, fostering self-efficacy, continuity of care, and integration of medical, educational, and psychosocial interventions. Equipping healthcare professionals with the competencies to deliver this holistic, woman-centered framework is essential to optimize maternal and neonatal outcomes and mitigate the long-term health consequences of GDM. Full article

Background: Birth defects remain a major global public health concern, particularly in low-resource settings where awareness and preventive practices are limited. Maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) are critical in the prevention and management of birth defects. This study explored contextual factors influencing maternal KAP using a mixed-methods approach in three rural districts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 72 mothers selected through purposive sampling. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered in English only, covering socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, knowledge, and preventive practices. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews exploring beliefs, perceptions, and cultural explanations of birth defects. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis to identify factors associated with birth defects, while qualitative data were thematically analysed to provide contextual understanding. Results: Most participants resided in the Amathole district (63.89%), followed by Alfred Nzo (18.06%) and Joe Gqabi (18.06%). Most women were aged between 20 and 35 years (52.78%), while 15.28% were younger than 20 years and 6.94% were older than 45 years. Over half of the respondents were single (55.56%), 34.72% were married, and the remainder were either separated (4.17%) or divorced (5.56%). Numerous participants had primary education (56; 77.78%), followed by secondary (11; 15.28%) and tertiary education (5; 6.94%). The majority were unemployed (56; 77.78%), while smaller proportions were employed (10; 13.89%) or engaged in other income-generating activities (6; 8.33%), indicating limited participation in formal employment among respondents. Nearly all participants (95.83%) had experienced pregnancy, with 70.83% reporting pregnancy-related complications. Only 2.78% reported having a child with a birth defect, while 90.28% reported a family history of birth defects. Knowledge of genetic causes was relatively high (69.23%), but awareness of modifiable risk factors was limited. Although 93.06% recognized alcohol use during pregnancy as harmful, fewer participants identified smoking or medication use (18.06%) and advanced maternal age (26.39%) as risk factors. Only 13.89% acknowledged the preventive role of antenatal care. Qualitative findings revealed strong cultural influence on perceptions of birth defects, with causes attributed to medical factors (38.89%), supernatural beliefs such as witchcraft or curses (18.06%), immoral behaviour (12.50%), and dietary taboos (11.11%). Traditional health-seeking behaviour was common, with 91.67% consulting traditional healers during pregnancy. Linear regression analysis identified significant predictors of birth defects, including family history (β = 1.36, p = 0.008), alcohol use during pregnancy (β = 1.13, p = 0.050), and inadequate antenatal care attendance (β = 0.99, p = 0.040). Advanced maternal age showed a weaker and non-significant association (β = 0.79, p = 0.080). Conclusions: The study highlights substantial gaps in maternal knowledge and the strong influence of cultural beliefs on birth defect prevention. Strengthening culturally sensitive health education, improving antenatal care services, and engaging traditional healers in community-based interventions are essential to improve maternal health outcomes in rural South Africa. Full article

Background/Objectives: Preterm birth (PTB) is a major public health concern worldwide, which may lead to detrimental maternal and neonatal outcomes. Maternal nutritional status, gestational weight gain (GWG), and lifestyle factors are potentially modifiable determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study examined the association between PTB and maternal GWG and assessed whether maternal dietary habits and lifestyle factors were related to GWG in women delivering preterm versus at term. Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted at a tertiary center in Hungary (MANOR Study, 2019). The case group included n = 100 women with PTB, while n = 200 matched term deliveries served as controls (1:2 ratio). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and medical records. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was categorized using standard definitions, while GWG was classified as inadequate, recommended, or excessive according to the US 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. A 7-item dietary index score was calculated based on gestational dietary habits. Results: Pre-pregnancy BMI distribution did not considerably differ between groups (p > 0.05); over one-third of women in both groups were overweight or had obesity (38.7% vs. 36.7%). Previous PTB (p < 0.001) and gestational hypertension (GHT) (p = 0.003) were more common among current PTB cases, while smoking, alcohol consumption, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) showed negligible differences (p > 0.05)—28.0% of cases, and 34.5% of controls were classified as having healthy dietary habits, based on the dietary index score calculated. Inadequate GWG was more prevalent among PTB cases (49.0% vs. 26.8%), whereas excessive GWG was less frequent among cases (21.9% vs. 38.4%). Being within the recommended GWG range and the manifestation of gestational hypertension were associated with lower (aOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18–0.87; p = 0.020) and higher (aOR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.44–8.19; p = 0.005) odds of PTB, respectively. Conclusions: Inadequate GWG was more common in PTB, while excessive GWG was more frequent in term pregnancies. Fast-food consumption was associated with excessive GWG among term births. Optimizing GWG and improving maternal diet quality should be included as key, cross-cutting interventions targeting the improvement of antenatal care. Full article

Introduction: Pediatric asthma is the inflammatory condition with the highest burden of chronic disease in children. Awareness of the undesirable effects of modern lifestyles, including sedentary behavior and eating habits associated with Western diets, has led to novel approaches in clinical practice. Current concerns focus on the possibility of non-pharmacological intervention to achieve better disease control and normal lung function in these children. Method: In this narrative review, we analyzed current information on the influence of dietary patterns on lung function. The aim was to clarify the extent to which current knowledge provides arguments for applying certain dietary measures to asthma patients in order to optimize lung function. We conducted research in the literature to evaluate the impact of Western diet, Mediterranean diet, and micronutrients status on lung function. We also focused on how maternal diet during pregnancy can influence lung function in offspring. Results: We found a positive impact on lung function in children who adhere to the Mediterranean diet, in contrast to the Western diet which is related to low asthma control. Deficits of micronutrients like selenium, zinc, iron, and vitamin D are linked to impaired lung function. Maternal intake of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium during pregnancy is correlated with better FEV1 and FVC. However, current information on this topic is controversial, and there is no clear data on intervention measures in clinical practice. Conclusions: Evaluation and clear recommendations of diet could contribute to a better management of children with asthma. Full article

Background: Undernutrition among children under five years remains a major public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and rural communities where poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to health services persist. Maternal and caregiver perceptions play a critical role in shaping feeding practices and health-seeking behaviours that influence child nutritional outcomes. Objective: This study explored mothers’ and caregivers’ perceptions of factors contributing to undernutrition among children under five years in a rural community of Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a primary healthcare clinic in the Ngqeleni sub-district. Purposive sampling was used to recruit mothers and caregivers of children under five years. Data were collected through seven in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions involving a total of 25 participants. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide and analyzed thematically. Results: Five major themes emerged: caregivers’ perceptions of nutrition, household food insecurity and unemployment, limited dietary diversity, culturally influenced feeding practices, and gaps in practical nutrition knowledge. Caregivers demonstrated concern for child nutrition but described constrained feeding choices shaped by poverty, reliance on social grants, environmental challenges, and limited access to diverse foods. Environmental challenges such as drought and lack of piped water further limited food production. Limited nutrition knowledge and reliance on informal information sources contributed to suboptimal feeding practices. Conclusions: Undernutrition in this rural setting is shaped by a complex interaction of economic hardship, environmental constraints, and limited caregiver knowledge. Community-based nutrition education, strengthened primary healthcare counselling, and multisectoral interventions addressing poverty, water access, and food security are essential to improve child nutrition outcomes. Full article

Nitric oxide (NO) functions as a master integrative regulator of cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) homeostasis, yet it displays a profound Janus face, defined by concentration- and context-dependent roles in both health and disease. This narrative review examines NO signaling from a life-course perspective, beginning with fetal programming, during which the NO–asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) axis orchestrates placental development and nephron endowment. Perturbations during this critical window—such as maternal ADMA elevation—can imprint a maladaptive trajectory toward adult-onset hypertension and chronic kidney disease. In adulthood, this initially silent dysregulation of NO signaling is amplified by Western dietary patterns and environmental pollutants, culminating in the clinical manifestation of the CKM triad. This pathological transition is driven by eNOS uncoupling and ADMA accumulation, which shift redox balance toward peroxynitrite formation and precipitate mitochondrial bioenergetic failure. Moreover, while constitutive NO production is essential for vascular homeostasis, pathological induction of inducible NOS generates excessive NO fluxes that promote insulin resistance and tissue injury. With advancing age, a progressive loss of NO resilience further exacerbates multi-organ vulnerability. To mitigate the cumulative burden of CKM disease, this review highlights developmental reprogramming strategies—such as perinatal L-citrulline supplementation and ADMA-lowering interventions—as interventions to restore physiological NO signaling. Integrating such early-life strategies with contemporary pharmacological therapies offers a coherent framework for maintaining NO bioavailability and extending health span across the life course. Full article

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

Background/Objectives: The mediating role of the diverse range of screen-based sedentary behaviors (SBs) remains understudied, particularly at younger ages. The present study examined the direct and indirect effects of parental BMI and education on ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among preschoolers, testing the potential mediating role of screen time. Methods: The cross-sectional study sample comprised 919 kindergarten children (484 boys, 52.7%), with ages ranging from 2.2 to 6.8 years (mean: 4.7 ± 1.0 years). Screen-based sedentary behaviors (television viewing, smartphone use, tablet use, computer use, and playing electronic games) were measured by proxy-report fulfilled by parents, separately for weekdays and weekends. UPF consumption (drinks/yogurts, packaged/fast foods, and sweet/salty snacks) was assessed via 24 h recall scales. Path analysis mediation models tested direct effects of maternal/paternal BMI and education on UPF intake, and indirect effects through screen time, controlling for child age and sex. Results: Lower parental education and higher parental BMI were associated with increased mobile device use and UPF consumption (r = 0.10–0.28). Screen-based sedentary behaviors mediated the association between maternal BMI and UPF pathways (15–90% of total effects), particularly for sweet and salty snacks (50–90%). Parental education effects were also mediated by screen time (9–23% indirect effects), with paternal education showing stronger protection against packaged/fast foods. Conclusions: Mobile devices and watching television partially mediate intergenerational transmission of obesogenic dietary patterns from parental BMI/education to preschoolers’ UPF consumption. Findings of the current study support family-centered interventions targeting screen-time limits and UPF exposure, mainly at the weekends, to prevent early obesity trajectories. Full article

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects many pregnancies worldwide and is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Current screening at 24–28 weeks limits opportunities for early intervention. We evaluated whether machine learning (ML) models using first-trimester clinical and dietary data can predict GDM risk before the standard oral glucose tolerance test. Methods: We analyzed data from 797 pregnant women enrolled in the BORN2020 prospective cohort study (Thessaloniki, Greece). Ten ML algorithms were evaluated across five class-imbalance handling strategies using stratified 5-fold cross-validation, with final evaluation on an independent 20% held-out test set. Features included maternal demographics, obstetric history, lifestyle factors, and 22 dietary micronutrient intakes from the pre-pregnancy period assessed by Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results: The best-performing model (Logistic Regression without resampling) achieved an AUC-ROC of 0.664 (95% CI: 0.542–0.777), with sensitivity of 0.783 and NPV of 0.932 at the pre-specified threshold. The high NPV should be interpreted in the context of the low GDM prevalence (14.7%), as NPV is mathematically dependent on disease prevalence. A reduced nine-feature model using only routine clinical and demographic variables achieved a numerically higher AUC of 0.712 (95% CI: 0.589–0.825), with overlapping confidence intervals, indicating that detailed FFQ-derived micronutrient data did not improve prediction. Maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI were the strongest individual predictors by SHAP analysis. No model reached the AUC >0.80 threshold for good discrimination. Substantial miscalibration was observed (slope: 0.56; intercept: −1.83), limiting use for absolute risk estimation. Conclusions: This exploratory study demonstrates that first-trimester ML models achieve modest discriminative ability for early GDM prediction, with routine clinical variables performing comparably to models incorporating detailed dietary assessment. These findings should be interpreted with caution, as no external validation cohort was available and the low events-per-variable ratio (~3.8) constrains the reliability of individual model estimates. Substantial miscalibration further limits use for absolute risk estimation. Accordingly, these models should be regarded as exploratory risk-ranking tools only and require external validation and recalibration before any clinical implementation. Full article

Introduction: Anemia is a global public health concern affecting mainly women of reproductive age (WRA) and preschoolers (PSC, 6–59 months) due to their higher demand for iron. The etiology of anemia is multifactorial, and nutritional anemia is the most common type worldwide and is predominantly due to deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, and folate. This study aimed to assess the associated factors, etiology, and prevalence of anemia among WRA and preschoolers in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) region in Tajikistan. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the GBAO region of Tajikistan between April 2021 and September 2021, enrolling 500 non-pregnant WRA and 500 children aged 6–59 months in pairs (mother–PSC dyads) from six districts of the GBAO region. The survey was administered through a structured questionnaire at the household level, and information was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive history, dietary intake, nutritional status, and maternal factors. Blood and stool samples were also collected for micronutrient deficiencies and helminthic infections. Data analysis began with univariate analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression in Stata (version 18). Results: Biochemical assessment of 473 WRA and 390 preschoolers was carried out; 17.3% of WRA were anemic, and 15.4% of PSC were anemic. Anemia prevalence was 17.3% among WRA and 15.4% among PSC. Among women, low ferritin and elevated serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels were associated with higher odds of anemia, whereas overweight status, higher gravidity, and vitamin B12 deficiency were associated with lower odds. Among children, low maternal education, maternal anemia, age < 24 months, and low ferritin were associated with increased odds of anemia. Conclusions: Anemia prevalence in GBAO was substantially lower than reported in the 2016 national survey, potentially reflecting methodological and contextual differences. Findings highlight iron deficiency as a dominant contributor, particularly in young children, underscoring the need for context-specific maternal and child nutrition interventions. Full article

Etiologies of congenital heart disease (CHD) are multifactorial. The role of maternal nutrition and environmental factors among these CHD etiologies remain insufficiently understood. This pilot study evaluated the potential association between maternal diet quality, nutrient intake, and food security to fetal CHD in a cohort of 100 pregnant individuals, including 20 with CHD-affected pregnancies identified in a fetal cardiology clinic at an urban tertiary care hospital. A Diet Quality Photo Navigation (DQPN) tool assessed dietary quality and nutrient intake, while a survey collected data on demographics, health history, and food security. Comparison tests assessed for differences between CHD- and non-CHD-affected pregnancies. CHD-affected pregnancies demonstrated descriptively lower Healthy Eating Index scores, reduced prenatal multivitamin use, and lower intake of iron, manganese, fiber, and vitamin C. The non-CHD group demonstrated a significantly higher consumption of healthier snacks (p = 0.03), plant-based meat alternatives (p = 0.05), and unsweetened beverages (p = 0.05), while descriptively showing greater fruit and vegetable intake as compared to the CHD-affected group. No statistically significant differences in food security or socioeconomic indicators were identified. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of applying a DQPN tool in fetal health research and describe maternal dietary patterns that may inform the design of future hypothesis-driven studies. Continued investigation into maternal diet quality is critical to understand its potential role in mitigating CHD risk through targeted nutritional interventions. Full article