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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center » Microbiome and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426722
Research Project: Early Life Factors and Microbiota Impact on Healthy Development

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and offspring brain development: insights from neuroimaging

Author
item NA, XIAOXU - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item MACKEAN, PHILOMENA - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item CAPE, GRACIE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item JOHNSON, JOSIAH - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item OU, XIAWEI - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2024
Publication Date: 10/1/2024
Citation: Na, X., Mackean, P.P., Cape, G.A., Johnson, J.W., Ou, X. 2024. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and offspring brain development: insights from neuroimaging. Nutrients. 16:3337. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193337.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193337

Interpretive Summary: In order to synthesize the impact of maternal nutrition on offspring brain development, we reviewed current literatures the with a specific focus on findings from neuroimaging studies. The diverse effects of maternal nutrients intake or status during pregnancy on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children are reviewed and discussed, with the aim to inspire furture research utilizing neuroimaging to deepen our understanding of the critical impacts of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on offspring brain development.

Technical Abstract: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is known to be important for offspring growth and health and has also been increasingly recognized for shaping offspring brain development. On the other hand, recent advancements in brain imaging technology have provided unprecedented insights into fetal, neonatal, and pediatric brain morphometry and function. This review synthesizes the current literature regarding the impact of maternal nutrition on offspring brain development, with a specific focus on findings from neuroimaging studies. The diverse effects of maternal nutrients intake or status during pregnancy on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children are discussed. Neuroimaging evidence showed associations between maternal nutrition such as food categories, macronutrients, and micronutrients including vitamins and minerals during pregnancy and child brain imaging features measured using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG). This review demonstrates the capability of neuroimaging in characterizing how maternal nutrition during pregnancy impacts structure and function of the developing brain that may further influence long-term neuropsychological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in children. It aims to inspire future research utilizing neuroimaging to deepen our understanding of the critical impacts of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on offspring brain development.