The Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory highlighted the critical window of opportunity within the first 1000 days of life, from conception to two years of age, to modify and attenuate the risk of diseases in later life. Nutrition during pregnancy is one of the fundamental components of this concept. Previous research has largely focused on the importance of a single nutrient, in both observational and interventional trials, which had led to some significant findings and policy changes made in relevant fields. In the past years, as we have learned the complex interaction between various nutritious components of foods and their subsequent interaction with host microbes, we have come to the agreement that dietary intake, should be studied as a whole, rather than in a single component. The relationship between maternal diet during pregnancy and the intrauterine growth of the fetus has been studied broadly, but the longer-term impact on the growth of the offspring, from childhood to adolescence or adulthood, is still lacking. In addition, conventionally, one’s dietary quality has been assessed against certain standards, given the considerable dietary diversity around the globe, especially in the use of indigenous foods and ingredients, it is necessary to continue to explore a more representative and inclusive way of evaluating dietary quality. Recent advances in the omics approaches have shed light on the interaction between food-microbiome-host health, the role of gut microbiota in this specific context is therefore of interest as well.
This research topic aims to provide insights into the emerging question of whether and how maternal overall dietary quality during pregnancy affects the offspring's short- and longer-term health outcomes.
Topics that will be considered in this research topic contain the following:
· Assessing the impact of maternal dietary quality (using various matrices) on the health outcomes of offspring at all stages of life, including but not limited to growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in humans;
· Dietary assessment for women with pre-existing conditions or with pregnancy complications that require dietary management;
· Using omics approaches to study the complex interactions between nutritional intake, host metabolism, and gut microbiome in this specific context;
· Special dietary habits during pregnancy in various cultural backgrounds, highlighting the use of indigenous foods and ingredients;
· New ideas, methods, or matrix for dietary quality evaluation.
The Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory highlighted the critical window of opportunity within the first 1000 days of life, from conception to two years of age, to modify and attenuate the risk of diseases in later life. Nutrition during pregnancy is one of the fundamental components of this concept. Previous research has largely focused on the importance of a single nutrient, in both observational and interventional trials, which had led to some significant findings and policy changes made in relevant fields. In the past years, as we have learned the complex interaction between various nutritious components of foods and their subsequent interaction with host microbes, we have come to the agreement that dietary intake, should be studied as a whole, rather than in a single component. The relationship between maternal diet during pregnancy and the intrauterine growth of the fetus has been studied broadly, but the longer-term impact on the growth of the offspring, from childhood to adolescence or adulthood, is still lacking. In addition, conventionally, one’s dietary quality has been assessed against certain standards, given the considerable dietary diversity around the globe, especially in the use of indigenous foods and ingredients, it is necessary to continue to explore a more representative and inclusive way of evaluating dietary quality. Recent advances in the omics approaches have shed light on the interaction between food-microbiome-host health, the role of gut microbiota in this specific context is therefore of interest as well.
This research topic aims to provide insights into the emerging question of whether and how maternal overall dietary quality during pregnancy affects the offspring's short- and longer-term health outcomes.
Topics that will be considered in this research topic contain the following:
· Assessing the impact of maternal dietary quality (using various matrices) on the health outcomes of offspring at all stages of life, including but not limited to growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in humans;
· Dietary assessment for women with pre-existing conditions or with pregnancy complications that require dietary management;
· Using omics approaches to study the complex interactions between nutritional intake, host metabolism, and gut microbiome in this specific context;
· Special dietary habits during pregnancy in various cultural backgrounds, highlighting the use of indigenous foods and ingredients;
· New ideas, methods, or matrix for dietary quality evaluation.