The Role of Pregnancy Nutrition in Maternal and Offspring Health

Abstract

In pregnancy, maternal nutrition sustains and nourishes the developing fetus. Imbalances in either the direction of nutritional excess or deficiency can have detrimental consequences for offspring health. Furthermore, a cumulation of research now points to the importance of good pregnancy nutrition beyond immediate fetal outcomes. This includes modifying the risk of offspring outcomes as they enter childhood and adulthood through influences on placental development, hormonal pathways, and organ structure and function. Suboptimal nutrition during the gestational period may also compromise maternal outcomes during pregnancy, some of which have long-term consequences for women’s health.