Maternal Nutrition and Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy
Summary
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy encompasses the intake and utilisation of macro- and micronutrients, dietary patterns, and supplemental interventions that support maternal health and foetal development. Adequate energy and protein are required to maintain maternal homeostasis and to support placental growth and foetal organogenesis. Carbohydrate quality—often characterised by glycaemic index and fibre content—influences maternal glycaemic control and may modulate risks of gestational diabetes and excessive foetal growth. Essential fatty acids, particularly long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, contribute to neurodevelopment and anti-inflammatory pathways. Micronutrients such as folate, iron, iodine, calcium and vitamin D are critical for neural tube closure, haemoglobin synthesis, thyroid function, bone accretion and blood pressure regulation. Dietary patterns that emphasise whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats have consistently been associated with optimal birth weight and lower rates of hypertensive disorders. Conversely, patterns high in refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and ultra-processed foods correlate with adverse outcomes including pre-eclampsia, large-for-gestational-age infants and postpartum weight retention. Geographical and socio-economic factors shape adherence to dietary guidelines; culturally tailored diet quality indices are increasingly employed to monitor intake and guide public health strategies. Pregnancy also represents a window of opportunity for targeted nutritional counselling aimed at reducing lifelong cardiometabolic risk in both mother and child.
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Maternal Nutrition and Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in maternal nutrition and dietary patterns in pregnancy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Dietary pattern: A combination of foods and beverages that characterises habitual intake.
Diet quality index: A scoring system that assesses adherence to dietary guidelines or recommended food-nutrient targets.
Oxidative stress biomarkers: Molecules (e.g. malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine) indicating cellular damage from reactive oxygen species.
Large-for-gestational-age (LGA): A birth weight above the 90th percentile for gestational age and sex, often linked to maternal nutrition and metabolic status.
References
- The Effect of Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake on Oxidative Stress Levels in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants (2023).
- Diet quality indexes for use during pregnancy: a scoping review. Nutrition Reviews (2023).
- The Effect of Maternal Dietary Patterns on Birth Weight for Gestational Age: Findings from the MAMI-MED Cohort. Nutrients (2023).
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