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Review
. 2024 Mar 28;16(7):994.
doi: 10.3390/nu16070994.

Exploring Gene-Diet Interactions for Mother-Child Health: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies

Giuliana Favara  1 , Andrea Maugeri  1 , Roberta Magnano San Lio  1 , Martina Barchitta  1 , Antonella Agodi  1
Affiliations
Review

Exploring Gene-Diet Interactions for Mother-Child Health: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies

Giuliana Favara et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Maternal-child health suggests the critical impact of maternal nutrition during the pre-conception and gestational periods, with some genetic variants also playing a significant role. Our systematic review provides an overview of epidemiological studies exploring the interactions between genetic variants, maternal dietary habits, and neonatal and/or maternal pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: From its inception until June 2023, we conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases.

Results: On a total of 29 epidemiological studies, 11 studies were conducted to explore the interplay between genetic variants and dietary factors, focusing on the risks associated with gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, recurrent spontaneous abortion, recurrent pregnancy loss, iron deficiency anemia, and gestational weight gain. Concerning neonatal outcomes, six studies investigated the interplay between genetic variants, dietary factors, and anthropometric measures, while eight studies delved into abnormal embryonic development, two studies focused on preterm birth, and two studies explored other neonatal outcomes.

Conclusions: Deeply understanding gene-diet interactions could be useful in developing highly personalized approaches to maternal and child nutrition, as well as in exploring the potential implications in disease prevention and the promotion of the long-term well-being of both mothers and their offspring.

Keywords: diet; genetic variants; interaction; mother–child health; nutrition; pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram of study selection process.
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