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Pregnancy as a Fundamental Determinant of Child Health: a Review

Current Nutrition Reports (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Maternal conditions and exposures during pregnancy including over- and undernutrition are associated with poor childbirth outcomes, growth, development and chronic childhood diseases. We examined contemporary pregnancy-related determinants of child health.

Recent Findings

While maternal undernutrition remains a major contributor to low birth weight, maternal obesity affects foetal growth, birth weight, survival and is associated with childhood obesity, asthma and autistic spectrum disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic changes, the prenatal microbiome and maternal immune activation (MIA), a neuroinflammatory process induced by diet and other exposures cause foetal programming resulting in these chronic childhood diseases.

Summary

Maternal diet is potentially a modifiable risk factor for controlling low birth weight, obesity and chronic disease in childhood. Further studies are warranted to refine guidance on dietary restriction and physical activity during pregnancy and determine how MIA and prenatal microbiota can be applied to control childhood diseases arising from programming.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, P. O. Box GP 4236, Accra, Ghana

    Edem Magdalene Afua Tette & Anita Ago Asare

  2. Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box KB 143, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana

    Freda Dzifa Intiful

  3. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana

    Anita Ago Asare

  4. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Juliana Yartey Enos

  5. Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, Ghana Health Service, P. O. Box GP122, Accra, Ghana

    Edem Magdalene Afua Tette

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Tette, E.M.A., Intiful, F.D., Asare, A.A. et al. Pregnancy as a Fundamental Determinant of Child Health: a Review. Curr Nutr Rep (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-022-00416-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-022-00416-1

Keywords

  • Pregnancy
  • Child health
  • Maternal nutrition
  • Low birth weight
  • Maternal immune activation
  • Prenatal microbiome