08/30/2025
Maternal diet quality and inflammatory potential have significant impacts on pregnancy outcomes, fetal growth, and long-term child health. Diets with high inflammatory potential are associated with increased risks of adverse outcomes, including small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Observational and pooled cohort analyses demonstrate that higher dietary quality—characterized by nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods—correlates with improved birth weight, head circumference, and reduced risk of SGA and low birth weight infants. Pro-inflammatory diets, often high in saturated fats and animal protein, and low in fiber, are associated with elevated inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, IL-6) and an increased risk of metabolic complications. Maternal diet also influences immunity, intestinal microbiota, and metabolic health during gestation and lactation, with high-fiber, plant-based diets promoting beneficial immune and metabolic profiles.