Periconceptional maternal Mediterranean diet is associated with favorable offspring behaviors and altered CpG methylation of imprinted genes

In this 2014 study, Vilela et al. sought to identify dietary patterns before pregnancy and examine their association with depressive symptoms suffered during pregnancy. The researchers examined 248 healthy pregnant women in Brazil at 5-13, 20-26, and 30-36 gestational weeks. Dietary intake was recorded through the use of food frequency questionnaires (between 5-13 gestational weeks) […]

Moody et al. (2017) explain that maternal diets play a crucial role in the maturation of vital organs and the establishment of neuronal connections, especially during the perinatal stage (either immediately before or after giving birth). If the perinatal diet is deficient in certain micro- or macronutrients, or if it contains excessive amounts of calories, […]