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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Effects of dietary interventions on neonatal and infant outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Ellie Gresham1, Julie E Byles1, Alessandra Bisquera1
1From the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health (EG, JEB, and AJH) and the Clinical Research Design Information Technology and Statistical Support Unit (AB), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Background:
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in fetal growth and birth outcomes.
Objective:
We synthesized effects of dietary interventions before or during pregnancy on neonatal and infant outcomes.
Design:
Randomized controlled trials that assessed the whole diet or dietary components and neonatal or infant outcomes were included. Two authors independently identified articles to be included and assessed the methodologic quality. A meta-analysis was conducted separately for each outcome by using a random-effects model. Results were reported by dietary intervention as follows: 1) counseling, 2) food and fortified food products, or 3) a combination (counseling plus food) intervention, and 4) collectively for all dietary interventions. Results were subanalyzed by the nutrient of interest, country income, and BMI.
Results:
Of 2326 abstracts screened, a total of 29 randomized controlled trials (31 publications) were included in this review. Food and fortified food products were effective in increasing birth weight [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.27; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.40; P < 0.01] and reducing the incidence of low birth weight (SMD: -0.22; 95% CI: -0.37, -0.06; P < 0.01). All dietary interventions and those focused on macronutrient intake also increased birth weight (P < 0.01) and length (P < 0.05) and reduced the incidence of low birth weight (P < 0.01). Dietary interventions in low-income countries and underweight or nutritionally at-risk populations increased birth weight (P < 0.05) and reduced the incidence of low birth weight (P = 0.01). No effects were seen for the following other outcomes: placental weight, head circumference, macrosomia, Apgar score, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, and perinatal mortality.
Conclusion:
Additional high-quality randomized controlled trials that test different dietary interventions are required to identify maternal diet intakes that optimize neonatal and infant outcomes.
