Nutrition and Pregnancy Outcomes

Epidemiologic and observational studies in humans and preclinical animal modeling studies over the last three decades have positioned parental nutrition before and during pregnancy as a key determinant of health within and beyond the perinatal period. Unbalanced nutrition, including caloric restriction or excess, or a lack of adequate micronutrient intake, can have negatively affect fetal growth, and have chronic impacts on offspring cardiometabolic and reproductive health. Here we review how parental nutrient imbalances during pregnancy can affect fetal growth trajectory, pregnancy outcomes, and prime offspring for chronic disease in adult life, as well as ways in which these so-called ‘programming’ effects can be ameliorated by interventions during and after gestation.