Nutrition during pregnancy has an influence on the well-being and health development of the child into adulthood. Study results increasingly indicate that metabolic events during short, sensitive time windows in prenatal and postnatal development have modulating properties on health in later life. For example, a direct influence of nutrition on the methylation of certain genes and on metabolic parameters has been demonstrated.
Depending on the time of exposure, malnutrition or restricted calorie intake during pregnancy can lead to epigenetic changes, low birth weight, poorer lipid profiles, increased risk of obesity and diabetes in the offspring.
Studies on the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy have shown an influence on birth weight, placental weight and foetal growth as well as a reduction in the risk of premature birth. The consumption of fish and seafood was associated with improved neurological development, higher developmental scores and improved vision.
The total fat consumption as well as the consumption of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids showed no influence on birth weight, a high gamma-linolenic acid concentration led to reduced concentrations of certain components of the metabolic syndrome.
Increasing milk consumption was associated with higher birth weight, a lower risk of SGA (small for gestational age) and a higher risk of LGA (large for gestational age).
Studies indicate that, among other things, children's taste preferences are already formed in the womb.
