Dietary Interventions Targeting Maternal Obesity: Intergenerational Effects, Mechanisms, and Translational Insights

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Maternal obesity presents significant risks for pregnancy complications and offspring metabolic disorders.
• Nutrition offers a modifiable pathway to address the intergenerational transmission of obesity.
• Understanding intrauterine environmental influences is crucial for intervention development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on nutritional interventions for maternal obesity.
• To highlight mechanisms and translational potential for maternal and offspring health.
• To identify research gaps in clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies.
• Synthesis of evidence on polyphenols, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, probiotics, prebiotics, whole grains, and iron.
• Analysis of underlying biological mechanisms and translational implications.

Main Results:

• Preclinical data show benefits for maternal metabolism, placental function, gut microbiota, and epigenetics.
• Strong clinical evidence exists for folic acid and vitamin D; emerging data for fiber.
• Polyphenols and omega-3s have antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects but face bioavailability/safety challenges.
• Probiotics/prebiotics show potential but have inconsistent outcomes.
• Whole grains/fortified foods offer implementation feasibility, but require more longitudinal data in obese pregnancies.

Conclusions:

• Dietary interventions can mitigate maternal obesity effects on metabolism, inflammation, placental function, and offspring health.
• Current evidence is predominantly preclinical, with limited long-term human data.
• Future research needs well-designed trials and personalized approaches to break the intergenerational obesity cycle.