Differential gene expression in neonatal calf muscle tissues from Hanwoo cows overfed during mid to late pregnancy period.

Maternal nutrition significantly influences fetal development and postnatal outcomes. This study investigates the impact of maternal overfeeding during mid to late pregnancy on gene expression in the round and sirloin muscles of Hanwoo neonatal calves. Eight cows were assigned to either a control group receiving standard nutrition (100%) or a treated group receiving overnutrition (150%). After birth, tissue samples from the round and sirloin muscles of neonatal calves were collected and subjected to RNA sequencing to assess differentially expressed genes (DEGs). RNA sequencing identified 43 DEGs in round muscle and 15 in sirloin muscle, involving genes related to myogenesis, adipogenesis, and energy regulation. Key genes, including PPARGC1A, THBS1, CD44, JUND, CNN1, ENAH, and RUNX1, were predominantly downregulated. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses revealed terms associated with muscle development, such as "biological regulation," "cellular process," and "response to stimulus." Protein-protein interaction networks highlighted complex interactions among DEGs. Random Forest analysis identified ARC, SLC1A5, and GNPTAB as influential genes for distinguishing between control and treated groups. Overall, maternal overnutrition during mid-to-late pregnancy results in the downregulation of genes involved in muscle development and energy metabolism in neonatal Hanwoo calves. These findings provide insights into the molecular effects of maternal nutrition on muscle development.

To Study the Correlation of Maternal Serum Vitamin D Levels and Infant Serum Vitamin D Levels With Infant Birth Weight: A Single-Centre Experience From the Bundelkhand Region, India.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can have severe effects on both the mother and the newborn child. The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of maternal vitamin D levels on the birth weight of the newborn by analysing the vitamin D levels in pregnant women at full term and their newborn. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted with 150 consecutive women in labour presenting with a singleton term pregnancy at a large tertiary centre in the Bundelkhand region, India. Maternal and infant blood samples were obtained at the time of delivery. Umbilical cord blood was collected from infants, while maternal venous blood was drawn simultaneously. All relevant data were gathered, including the assessment of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels in both mother and infant. The birth weight of the infant was measured, and statistical analysis was performed to find an association between maternal vitamin D level to birth weight and vitamin D level of the infant. RESULT: Most pregnant women had low vitamin D levels in this study. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between maternal serum vitamin D levels and infant birth weight (p < 0.001), suggesting that lower maternal vitamin D levels were associated with low birth weight in infants. Additionally, infant serum vitamin D levels showed a positive correlation with maternal vitamin D levels (p < 0.001), indicating that higher maternal vitamin D levels tend to have infants with higher vitamin D levels at birth. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a potential correlation of maternal vitamin D status to birth weight and vitamin D level of newborns, and further research is needed to confirm and better understand this relationship. Additionally, other factors such as maternal nutrition, genetics, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences may contribute to birth weight outcomes.

Social Norms: A Missing Ingredient of Programs Seeking to Foster Women's Agency in Nutrition.

Social expectations play a crucial role in shaping dietary practices among women and children. However, despite significant attention to promoting social and behavioral change in nutrition-focused programs and research, the influence of social norms on women's agency in enhancing nutrition practices is often overlooked. In this perspective, we advocate for a paradigm shift by incorporating a "norms aware" approach. This underscores the importance of recognizing, measuring, and addressing the societal constraints and barriers that women and children encounter in their journey to improved nutrition. Drawing on insights from the United States Agency for International Development-funded Kulawa project in Niger, we highlight the implications of using social norms diagnosis tools to understand the contextual dynamics within child-feeding practices, informing intervention design, and targeted populations. Integrating a norms perspective into nutrition programming and research does not require an overhaul, but rather a nuanced application of understanding of contextual drivers, such as social norms and agency, that have been underemphasized. We delve into the role of the socio-ecologic system, underscore the importance of addressing power imbalances related to gender and social hierarchy, and emphasize that programs targeting norms should aim for community rather than individual-level change. We provide guidance for programs and research integrating a norms perspective, as well as examples of how tools, such as the Social Norms Exploration Tool and Social Norms Analysis Plot framework, can be applied to identify and prioritize social norms, facilitating the design of "norms aware" programs. Additionally, we highlight the critical role of community engagement and discuss the value of using qualitative and quantitative approaches to document the process and outcomes of social norms research, program design, and implementation. When we recognize the role of social norms in nutrition as a missing ingredient in nutrition research, programming, and social and behavior change strategies, we create opportunities for more effective and contextually relevant research and interventions that address the complexities of enhancing nutrition practices among women and children.

Use of multiple micronutrient supplementation integrated into routine antenatal care: A discussion of research priorities.

Optimal maternal nutrition, including adequate intake and status of essential micronutrients, is important for the health of women and developing infants. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) Antenatal care recommendations for a positive pregnancy experience recommend daily iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation as the standard of care. The use of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) is recommended in the context of rigorous research as more evidence was needed regarding the impact of switching from IFA supplements to MMS, including evaluation of critical clinical maternal and perinatal outcomes, acceptability, feasibility, sustainability, equity and cost-effectiveness. WHO convened a technical consultation of key stakeholders to discuss research priorities with the objective of providing guidance and clarity to donors, implementers and researchers about this recommendation. The overarching principles of the research agenda include the use of clinical indicators and impact measures that are applicable across studies and settings and the inclusion of outcomes that are important to women. Future studies should consider using standardized protocols based on current best practices to measure critical outcomes such as gestational age (GA) and birthweight (BW) in studies. As GA and BW are influenced by multiple factors, more research is needed to understand the biological impact pathways, and how initiation and considerations for timing of MMS influence these outcomes. A set of core clinical indicators was agreed upon during the technical consultation. For implementation research, the Evidence-to-Decision framework was used as a resource for discussing components of implementation research. The implementation research questions, key indicators and performance measures will depend on country-specific context and bottlenecks that require further research and improved solutions to enable the successful implementation of iron-containing supplements.

Strengthening nutrition policy and service delivery: Lessons learned from a six-country assessment of Alive and Thrive's technical assistance.

Alive & Thrive (A&T) provides strategic technical assistance (TA) to develop effective policies; improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) programme design and implementation and enhance system capacity to sustain quality MIYCN service delivery at scale. A qualitative assessment was conducted using document review and stakeholder interviews (n = 79) to describe a selection of A&T's TA in six countries and systematically assess the contextual and TA process-related factors that influenced the results achieved and document the lessons learned about MIYCN TA design and implementation. To facilitate the selection of different types of TA, we classified TA into two levels of stakeholder engagement and intensity. Under the Technical Advisor TA category, we assessed A&T's support to strengthen national policy formulation, monitoring, and implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. For Capacity Development TA, we assessed A&T support to scale-up maternal nutrition services and to increase strategic use of data. Factors important for TA provision included identifying and engaging with the right people, using evidence to support advocacy and decision-making, using multiple ways to strengthen capacity, developing packages of tools to support programme scale-up, and reinforcing feedback mechanisms to improve service provision and data quality. Challenges included shifts in the political context, poorly functioning health systems, and limited resources to replicate or sustain the progress made. Continued investment in evidence-based and practical TA that strengthens the institutionalization of nutrition across all stakeholders-including government, medical associations, civil society and development partners-is essential. Future TA must support governments to strengthen system capacity for nutrition, including financial and human resource gaps that hamper full scale-up.

The Effects of Maternal Nutrient Restriction during Mid to Late Gestation with Realimentation on Fetal Metabolic Profiles in the Liver, Skeletal Muscle, and Blood in Sheep.

Poor maternal nutrition during gestation negatively affects offspring growth and metabolism. To evaluate the impact of maternal nutrient restriction and realimentation on metabolism in the fetal liver, skeletal muscle, and circulation, on day 50 of gestation, ewes (n = 48) pregnant with singletons were fed 100% (CON) or 60% (RES) of requirements until day 90 of gestation, when a subset of ewes (n = 7/treatment) were euthanized, and fetal samples were collected. The remaining ewes were maintained on a current diet (CON-CON, n = 6; RES-RES, n = 7) or switched to an alternative diet (CON-RES, RES-CON; n = 7/treatment). On day 130 of gestation, the remaining ewes were euthanized, and fetal samples were collected. Fetal liver, longissimus dorsi (LD), and blood metabolites were analyzed using LC-MS/MS, and pathway enrichment analysis was conducted using MetaboAnalyst. Then, 600, 518, and 524 metabolites were identified in the liver, LD, and blood, respectively, including 345 metabolites that were present in all three. Nutrient restriction was associated with changes in amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, and transulfuration/methionine metabolic pathways, some of which were alleviated by realimentation. Fetal age also affected metabolite abundance. The differential abundance of metabolites involved in amino acid, methionine, betaine, and bile acid metabolism could impact fetal epigenetic regulation, protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and signaling associated with glucose and lipid metabolism.

Influences of Maternal Nutrition and Lifestyle Factors on Early Childhood Oral Health: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms and Intervention Strategies.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of maternal nutrition and lifestyle factors on early childhood oral health. The review focused on the effects of maternal vitamin D levels and smoking during pregnancy on children's dental health outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 23 that were included for analysis. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The effect estimates were pooled through a random effect model. All analyses were carried out using the R program. RESULTS: Most studies in our systematic review showed a significant association between maternal vitamin D and smoking during pregnancy and childhood dental health outcomes. Meta-analysis revealed a significant association between maternal vitamin D levels and children's dental health (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.49 to 3.45, p < 0.001). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was strongly linked to an increased risk of childhood dental caries (OR = 0.3290, 95% CI: 0.2089-0.4491, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the crucial role of maternal health behaviors in shaping children's oral health trajectories. This study emphasizes the need for integrated public health interventions promoting healthier maternal behaviors and early preventive dental care.

Prenatal Nutritional Factors and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Narrative Review.

According to the DSM-5, neurodevelopmental disorders represent a group of heterogeneous conditions, with onset during the developmental period, characterized by an alteration of communication and social skills, learning, adaptive behavior, executive functions, and psychomotor skills. These deficits determine an impairment of personal, social, scholastic, or occupational functioning. Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by an increased incidence and a multifactorial etiology, including genetic and environmental components. Data largely explain the role of genetic and environmental factors, also through epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and miRNA. Despite genetic factors, nutritional factors also play a significant role in the pathophysiology of these disorders, both in the prenatal and postnatal period, underscoring that the control of modifiable factors could decrease the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders. The preventive role of nutrition is widely studied as regards many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, but actually we also know the effects of nutrition on embryonic brain development and the influence of prenatal and preconceptional nutrition in predisposition to various pathologies. These factors are not limited only to a correct caloric intake and a good BMI, but rather to an adequate and balanced intake of macro and micronutrients, the type of diet, and other elements such as exposure to heavy metals. This review represents an analysis of the literature as regards the physiopathological mechanisms by which food influences our state of health, especially in the age of development (from birth to adolescence), through prenatal and preconceptional changes, underlying how controlling these nutritional factors should improve mothers' nutritional state to significantly reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. We searched key words such as "maternal nutrition and neurodevelopmental disorders" on Pubmed and Google Scholar, selecting the main reviews and excluding individual cases. Therefore, nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics teach us the importance of personalized nutrition for good health. So future perspectives may include well-established reference values in order to determine the correct nutritional intake of mothers through food and integration.

Maternal Dietary Deficiency in Choline Reduced Levels of MMP-2 Levels in Blood and Brain Tissue of Male Offspring Mice.

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and death globally, with a rising incidence in younger age groups. It is well known that maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation is vital for the early neurodevelopment of offspring. One-carbon (1C) metabolism, including folic acid and choline, plays a vital role in closure of the neural tube in utero. However, the impact of maternal dietary deficiencies in 1C on offspring neurological function following ischemic stroke later in life remains undefined. The aim of this study was to investigate inflammation in the blood and brain tissue of offspring from mothers deficient in dietary folic acid or choline. Female mice were maintained on either a control or deficient diet prior to and during pregnancy and lactation. When offspring were 3 months of age, ischemic stroke was induced. One and a half months later, blood and brain tissue were collected. We measured levels of matrix metalloproteases (MMP)-2 and 9 in both plasma and brain tissue, and reported reduced levels of MMP-2 in ChDD male offspring in both tissue types. No changes were observed in MMP-9. This observation supports our working hypothesis that maternal dietary deficiencies in folic acid or choline during early neurodevelopment impact the levels of inflammation in offspring after ischemic stroke.

Maternal dietary deficiencies in folic acid or choline reduce primary neuron viability after exposure to hypoxia through increased levels of apoptosis.

Objective: Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of death and disability globally. By addressing modifiable risk factors, particularly nutrition, the prevalence of stroke and its dire consequences can be mitigated. One-carbon (1C) metabolism is a critical biosynthetic process that is involved in neural tube closure, DNA synthesis, plasticity, and cellular proliferation. Folates and choline are two active components of 1C metabolism. We have previously demonstrated that maternal dietary deficiencies during pregnancy and lactation in folic acid or choline result in worse stroke outcomes in offspring. However, there is insufficient data to understand the neuronal mechanisms involved.Methods: Using C57Bl/6J female mice maintained on control, folic acid (0.3 mg/kg) or choline (choline bitrate 300 mg/kg) deficient diets we collected embryonic primary neurons from offspring and exposed them to hypoxic conditions for 6 hours. To determine whether increased levels of either folic acid or choline can rescue reduced neuronal viability, we supplemented cell media with folic acid and choline prior to and after exposure to hypoxia.Results: Our results suggest that maternal dietary deficiencies in either folic acid or choline during pregnancy negatively impacts offspring neuronal viability after hypoxia. Furthermore, increasing levels of folic acid (250 mg/ml) or choline chloride (250 mg/ml) prior to and after hypoxia have a beneficial impact on neuronal viability.Conclusion: The findings contribute to our understanding of the intricate interplay between maternal dietary factors, 1C metabolism, and the outcome of offspring to hypoxic events, emphasizing the potential for nutritional interventions in mitigating adverse outcomes.

Maternal Undernutrition Affects Fetal Thymus DNA Methylation, Gene Expression, and, Thereby, Metabolism and Immunopoiesis in Wagyu (Japanese Black) Cattle.

We aimed to determine the effects of maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) on the DNA methylation and gene expression patterns associated with metabolism and immunopoiesis in the thymuses of fetal Wagyu cattle. Pregnant cows were allocated to two groups: a low-nutrition (LN; 60% nutritional requirement; n = 5) and a high-nutrition (HN; 120% nutritional requirement, n = 6) group, until 8.5 months of gestation. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing were used to analyze DNA methylation and gene expression, while capillary electrophoresis-Fourier transform mass spectrometry assessed the metabolome. WGBS identified 4566 hypomethylated and 4303 hypermethylated genes in the LN group, with the intergenic regions most frequently being methylated. Pathway analysis linked hypoDMGs to Ras signaling, while hyperDMGs were associated with Hippo signaling. RNA sequencing found 94 differentially expressed genes (66 upregulated, 28 downregulated) in the LN group. The upregulated genes were tied to metabolic pathways and oxidative phosphorylation; the downregulated genes were linked to natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Key overlapping genes (GRIA1, CACNA1D, SCL25A4) were involved in cAMP signaling. The metabolomic analysis indicated an altered amino acid metabolism in the MNR fetuses. These findings suggest that MNR affects DNA methylation, gene expression, and the amino acid metabolism, impacting immune system regulation during fetal thymus development in Wagyu cattle.

Nutrition knowledge and practice of midwives in Botswana.

Background: The roles and responsibilities of midwives include providing adequate nutrition assessment, nutrition and health education, counselling, and support to pregnant women. Aim: This study aims to assess midwives' nutrition knowledge and to what extent they integrate maternal nutrition in services provided at health facilities. Setting: This study included hospitals and clinics within the three selected districts in Botswana. Methods: A cross-sectional study design with an analytical component was employed. Direct observation through a checklist and a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire were used. Data were analysed using SPSS IBM version 26. Results: A sample of 102 midwives participated, resulting in a response rate of 82%. Most of the participants were females (89.2%). Maternal nutrition knowledge was found to be variable but decreased with midwives' age. A statistically significant correlation coefficient of p < 0.005 at r = -0.278 was observed between maternal nutrition knowledge and age. Similarly, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between maternal nutrition knowledge, practices and maternal nutrition course attended using Pearson correlation (r = -0.217 p < 0.028). Conclusion: Midwives had adequate to variable but declining maternal nutrition knowledge and practices with age. There is a need to provide midwives with refresher courses, as their nutrition knowledge and practices were related with courses attended. Contribution: The study contributes to provide the literature concerning nutrition knowledge and practices of midwives. The results will assist in addressing the gaps encountered and lead to the improvement of maternal nutrition and pregnancy outcomes.

Effects of prenatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements on pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomized controlled trials in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a small vulnerable newborn. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) contain both macro- and micronutrients and can help prevent multiple nutritional deficiencies. OBJECTIVES: We examined the effects of SQ-LNSs provided during pregnancy compared with 1) iron and folic acid or standard of care (IFA/SOC) or 2) multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) and identified characteristics that modified the estimates of effects of SQ-LNSs on birth outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a 2-stage meta-analysis of individual participant data from 4 randomized controlled trials of SQ-LNSs provided during pregnancy (n = 5273). We generated study-specific and subgroup estimates of SQ-LNS compared with IFA/SOC or MMS and pooled the estimates. In sensitivity analyses, we examined whether the results differed depending on methods for gestational age dating, birth anthropometry, or study design. RESULTS: SQ-LNSs (compared with IFA/SOC) increased birth weight [mean difference: +49 g; 95% confidence interval (CI): 26, 71 g] and all birth anthropometric z-scores (+0.10-0.13 standard deviation); they reduced risk of low birth weight by 11%, newborn stunting by 17%, newborn wasting by 11%, and small head size by 15%. Only 2 trials compared SQ-LNSs and MMSs; P values for birth outcomes were >0.10 except for head circumference (e.g., z-score for gestational age: +0.11; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.23). Effect estimates for SQ-LNSs compared with IFA/SOC were greater among female infants and, for certain outcomes, among mothers with body mass index <20 kg/m2, inflammation, malaria, or household food insecurity. Effect estimates for SQ-LNSs compared with MMSs were greater for certain outcomes among female infants, first-born infants, and mothers <25 y. CONCLUSIONS: SQ-LNSs had positive impacts on multiple outcomes compared to IFA/SOC, but further research directly comparing SQ-LNSs and MMSs is needed. Targeting SQ-LNSs to vulnerable subgroups may be worth considering. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42021283391.

The maternal lifestyle in pregnancy: Implications for foetal skeletal muscle development.

The world is facing a global nutrition crisis, as evidenced by the rising incidence of metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in humans and plays an important role in movement and host metabolism. Muscle fibre formation occurs mainly during the embryonic stage. Therefore, maternal lifestyle, especially nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, has a critical influence on foetal skeletal muscle development and the subsequent metabolic health of the offspring. In this review, the influence of maternal obesity, malnutrition and micronutrient intake on foetal skeletal muscle development is systematically summarized. We also aim to describe how maternal exercise shapes foetal muscle development and metabolic health in the offspring. The role of maternal gut microbiota and its metabolites on foetal muscle development is further discussed, although this field is still in its 'infancy'. This review will provide new insights to reduce the global crisis of metabolic disorders and highlight current gaps to promote further research.

Development and validation of a tool to assess underlying factors of iron-rich food consumption among pregnant women.

Anaemia among pregnant women remains a public health concern globally. One major cause of this persistent problem is iron deficiency, which may be the result of limited iron intake in the diet. Using the extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (eTPB), this study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing psychosocial and environmental factors that could influence the consumption of iron-rich foods (IRFs) among Senegalese pregnant women. A three-step procedure was used. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 10 pregnant women each from a different region to identify salient beliefs related to each of the four constructs of the eTPB using a structured guide. Information from FGDs was used to develop a questionnaire, which was administered to the first group (n = 200) of pregnant women. Principal component analyses and exploratory factorial analyses were performed on the first set of data to identify latent factors for each construct namely the attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. A revised and shorter version of the questionnaire was administered to a second sample of pregnant women (n = 226) and confirmatory factorial analyses were conducted using this second set of data. Hancock and Muller's H reliability index was computed on the final model. The final questionnaire included 44 items. Most criteria for fit indices were met and H values were satisfactory. This study proposes a tool that could be used to explore determinants of the consumption of IRF among pregnant women. Further validation is still warranted in other contexts.

Expert Consensus on an Open-Access UNIMMAP MMS Product Specification: 2024 revision.

The United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation (UNIMMAP) of a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) for pregnant women is a proven evidence-based nutrition intervention and is listed on the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines. The 2024 revision of the Expert Consensus on an Open-Access UNIMMAP MMS Product Specification provides both purchasers and manufacturers with unified guidance on the production of UNIMMAP MMS. More specifically, it outlines the minimum requirements for the manufacture of UNIMMAP MMS and provides guidance on quality and regulatory standards based on whether the product is manufactured as a medicinal product or a dietary supplement. The product specification includes ingredients, excipients/food additives, and processing aids used in manufacturing UNIMMAP MMS; stability testing for different climatic zones; packaging and labeling considerations; pharmacopeial standards, manufacturing practices, certificates of analysis, change control, and quality agreement; finished product test specifications, including tablet characterization and purity/strength assay; analytical test methods; and storage and transportation requirements.

The Sri Lanka Mother and Newborn Growth (S-MaNGro) Cohort: Protocol of a Nationwide Prospective Study.

Perinatal cohort studies with a prospective longitudinal design are critical for determining the effects of early-life exposures on offspring's health outcomes. The Sri Lanka Mother and Newborn Growth cohort study aims to investigate the impact of maternal nutritional and psychosocial factors on newborns' birth weight in the Sri Lankan context. This paper presents the methodology of participant recruitment, follow-ups, an overview of measurements, and planned data analyses. This study included a nationally representative sample of Sri Lankan pregnant women recruited in their first trimester of pregnancy. Follow-up assessments were conducted once during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and after the baby's birth, prospectively tracking the women's dietary intake, mental health, hemoglobin concentrations, and gestational weight gain data. Once the participants delivered their babies, the data on gestational age, sex of the newborn, birth weight, length and occipitofrontal circumference at birth, and mode of delivery were collected. Between August 2022 and August 2023, we recruited 2000 first-trimester pregnant women to the cohort and continued to follow up with them until the baby's birth. The response rates were 90.4%, 81.4%, and 75.2% in the first, second, and third follow-ups. We plan to analyze the data in July 2024. We expect this study to provide valuable insights into various early-life exposures affecting neonatal birth weight. The study's findings will serve as a valuable information resource for a broader scientific community, enabling the development of effective policies to prevent low-birth-weight deliveries in low-resource settings.

Functional integration of services during the antenatal period can potentially improve childhood growth parameters beyond infancy: findings from a post-interventional follow-up study in West Bengal, India.

BACKGROUND: Despite progress, the prevalence of childhood undernutrition in India remains amongst the highest globally. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a functional integration interventional package during the antenatal period on childhood growth parameters. METHODS: This is a post-interventional follow-up study of a maternal nutrition interventional study conducted between 2018 and 2019 among women in their first trimester of pregnancy from three districts in West Bengal, India. Pregnant women received a package of augmented interventions from study staff which supplemented those provided to them under the state-run programmes, that included body-mass-index measurement at pregnancy registration, monthly weight monitoring, targeted dietary counselling, supervised supplementary nutrition intake and iron-folic acid supplementation during daily anganwadi center visits. In the current follow-up study conducted in 2021, age-matched pregnant women from the same areas who were pregnant during the same period as in the original study and had received standard-of-care under the state-run programmes were recruited into a comparison group. Study staff collected data regarding maternal height and serial weights that were recorded at antenatal visits in 2018-19, and birth and infant characteristics. Child height and weight were measured during the follow-up visit in 2021, which were used to calculate the relative risks of stunting, wasting and underweight using generalized linear models, to understand the sustained impact of the intervention beyond infancy. Eight-hundred-nine mother-child dyads (406 intervention; 403 comparison) were followed. RESULTS: Median age of women in the intervention and comparison group was 23 (IQR 20-25) and 25 (IQR 24-27) years respectively. Median gestational-weight-gain was higher amongst intervention group women (9 vs. 8 kg, p = 0.04). Low-birth-weight prevalence was 29.3% (119/406) and 32.0% (129/403) in the intervention and comparison group. At 12-35 months of age, children born to women in the intervention group had significantly reduced risk of stunting (RR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.94), wasting (RR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.33-0.97) and underweight (RR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.42-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that functional integration and strengthening of routine antenatal care services including targeted nutritional counselling to expectant mothers can have distal beneficial effects on childhood undernutrition beyond the immediate post-natal period.

Maternal Malnutrition and Elevated Disease Risk in Offspring.

US populations have seen dramatic increases in the prevalence of chronic disease over the past three generations. Rapid increases in type 2 diabetes and obesity have occurred in all the states but have been particularly striking in the Deep South. These increases have contributed to decreases in life expectancy and to painful elevations in health care costs. The causes of worsening population health are complex and incompletely understood. However, there is strong evidence that vulnerability to chronic conditions is determined in early life. Most chronic diseases are developmentally driven. There are specific stressors experienced in early life that influence epigenetic and structural changes during development. These include malnutrition, severe levels of social stress, toxic chemicals, and low oxygen levels. Most US populations have experienced a decrease in the quality of the food they consume as industrial foods have replaced garden-grown foods. Thus, the consumption of too few nutrients before and during pregnancy and during lactation influences the growth of the placenta and fetal organs and their level of resilience when faced with stresses in postnatal life and particularly as adults. Animal studies have shown that the effects of poor nutrition can be passed on to future generations. The most powerful way that the current epidemics of obesity and insulin resistance can be reversed is by providing key nutrients to prospective mothers and those already pregnant.

Anthropometric and sociodemographic variables, but not preconception or prenatal maternal nutrition supplementation, predict neurodevelopment in offspring of the 'Women First' trial.

Multiple factors influence infant and child neurodevelopment in low resource settings. In offspring of participants in the preconception maternal nutrition trial, Women First (WF), we examined the impact of providing a preconception (Arm 1) or prenatal (Arm 2) nutrient supplement (compared to controls, Arm 3) on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months; predictors of neurodevelopment scores; and associations of infant anthropometrics with neurodevelopmental scores. Follow-up visits for anthropometry were conducted at 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month of age. At 24-months, in a randomized subset, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 3rd edition (BSID-III), including cognitive, motor and social-emotional subscales, and the Family Care Indicators (FCI) questionnaire, assessing family and home environment, were completed. Multiple covariates (intervention arm, site, maternal sociodemographic characteristics, FCI subscales, birthweight and 6-24 months' change in anthropometry z-scores, (e.g., ΔLAZ6-2 4) were evaluated by linear regression to predict BSID-III outcomes and to assess associations of anthropometric changes with BSID-III scores. The analysis consisted of 1386 infants (n = 441, 486, 459 for Arms 1, 2 and 3, respectively). None of the domain-specific BSID-III subscale scores differed by maternal intervention arm. Four covariates significantly predicted (p ≤ 0.01) all 3 BSID-III subscales: secondary maternal education, ΔLAZ6 - 24, birthweight >2500 g, and FCI play materials. Linear growth was associated with all domains of neurodevelopment. The results underscore the multi-dimensional aspects of child development represented by the nurturing care framework, including prenatal maternal nutrition, post-natal growth, maternal education for responsive caregiving and opportunities for early learning.