Influence of maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy on infant atopic dermatitis: Exploring the microbiome link in a Taiwanese birth cohort

Maternal diet during pregnancy plays a critical role in shaping infant immune development, potentially influencing the risk of atopic dermatitis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the association between maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy and the incidence of atopic dermatitis in early childhood and explored the potential mediating role of the infant gut microbiome.

The Taipei Mother-Infant Nutrition Cohort study is a longitudinal birth cohort study tracking 677 mother-infant pairs from pregnancy to the children's third year. This study assessed maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy using the Food and Agriculture Organization's guidelines for Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women. Infant microbiota was analyzed at 2 months postpartum, and the incidence of atopic dermatitis in the offspring was monitored from birth to age three. Incidence risk was calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression with various confounders adjusted for. The study compared relative microbial abundances and alpha and beta diversity across different levels of maternal dietary diversity.

Higher maternal dietary diversity was associated with a lower risk of atopic dermatitis in offspring. Maternal dietary diversity did not significantly affect the alpha or beta diversity of the infant gut microbiome but influenced its composition. Greater abundance of Rothia and Parabacteroides genera was significantly associated with a lower risk of atopic dermatitis. Additionally, a higher relative abundance of the Parabacteroides genus was linked to maternal intake of Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables.

These findings suggest that greater maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk of atopic dermatitis in early childhood, potentially through modulation of the infant gut microbiome. Further studies are warranted to validate these associations and clarify underlying mechanisms.