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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 #427761
Research Project: Early Life Factors and Microbiota Impact on Healthy Development

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Can Maternal Dietary Components or Supplements be the Answer to Mitigate Heat-Related Effects to Mothers and Offspring in Mammalian Species?

Author
item Ruebel, Meghan
item KODE, SREENITYA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item Caffey, Rebekah
item Dado-Fox, Jasmine
item Yeruva, Venkat

Submitted to: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Rising outdoor temperatures have been shown to be harmful to both mother and infant health outcomes. We also know that poor dietary intake of the mother in addition to heat stress can lead to reduced growth of the baby. In this review article, researchers summarized the current causes of how heat exposure during pregnancy impacts the maternal and child health outcomes. As well as show evidence that maternal dietary components or probiotics may be key in reducing the heat related effects on both mother and infant.

Technical Abstract: Extreme heat events are rising in frequency and duration and can have a significant impact on fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes. This review provides strong evidence that links heat stress during pregnancy and/or lactation in mammals will impair the maternal gut, immune response, hormone balance, placenta function and morphology, and alter fetal growth and birth outcomes. In addition, there are also effects to lactation and postnatally, including a change in milk production and composition, and alterations to offspring's gut, immune response, muscle, and body composition, independent of diet. In addition to the rise in extreme heat events, maternal diet composition has further effects and leads to detrimental outcomes during pregnancy and on offspring health. Yet, there are still many open questions that remain before we fully understand the mechanisms of how heat exposure during pregnancy impacts maternal and child health outcomes and how well these translate to humans. Lastly, emerging evidence supports the beneficial effects of maternal nutritional supplementation, micronutrient intake, and dietary components on maternal-child health outcomes.