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Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Unhealthy Diets, Unhealthy Futures: How Modern Eating Patterns Endanger Maternal and Offspring Health
Anallely López-Yerena1,2,3, Victoria Pinto1,2,4, Beatrice Maria Stella5
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Nutrients
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) negatively impact maternal and child health, affecting gut microbiota and increasing risks for obesity and chronic diseases. Reducing UPF intake during pregnancy and early life is crucial for long-term well-being.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are globally prevalent, linked to adverse health outcomes.
- Consumption during pregnancy and early childhood raises concerns about intergenerational health effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of UPF consumption on maternal and child health.
- To examine effects on gut microbiota composition and associated health risks.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing scientific literature.
- Focus on studies investigating UPF intake during pregnancy and early life.
Main Results:
- UPF intake linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
- Pregnancy UPF intake associated with poor diet quality, excessive weight gain, inflammation, and adverse neonatal outcomes.
- Early childhood UPFs linked to gut dysbiosis, obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and allergies.
Conclusions:
- UPF consumption during pregnancy and early childhood is a modifiable risk factor with significant health implications.
- Maternal diet influences children's UPF intake patterns.
- Understanding the dietary-microbiome-health axis is key for nutritional strategies to improve maternal and child health.
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