Association of maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy and infant lower respiratory tract infections

A varied diet during pregnancy benefits development of the fetus, but its impact on the infant respiratory health is less well-known. This study prospectively examines the association between the maternal Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) score and the risk of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in infants.

This study included 2588 women in Wuhan, China. Dietary intake was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires. All food items were categorized into 10 groups based on guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization to construct the MDD-W score. Infant LRTIs were recorded at 3-, 6-, and 12-months postpartum follow-ups.

In the study, 347 (13.4%) infants with LRTIs during the first year. Maternal MDD-W score ≤5 was associated with the higher risk of infant LRTIs (RR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.06) and hospitalization due to LRTIs (RR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.05) compared score ≥9. When the outcome was further subdivided into LRTIs at 0-6 months and 6-12 months of age, this association was only present at 0-6 months of age (RR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.10).

Our results suggest that low maternal dietary diversity is associated with a higher risk of infant LRTIs.

Diversified diet during pregnancy benefits the fetus's development, but few studies have demonstrated the effect of dietary diversity during pregnancy on the infant respiratory health. In this longitudinal cohort in China, we found that a varied diet during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of infant lower respiratory tract infections, the association remained regardless of whether infants breastfed. An intervention to increase maternal dietary diversity should be carefully considered.