Gurumurthy Gauri, Agrawal Devendra K
Department of Translational Research, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, 91766 USA.
J Pediatr Perinatol Child Health. 2025;9(2):68-84. doi: 10.26502/jppch.74050214. Epub 2025 Apr 28.
This review examines the growing concern regarding the relationship between maternal ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, preterm birth, and the subsequent development of metabolic disorders in offspring. Ultra-processed foods have become increasingly prevalent in global diets, coinciding with rising rates of metabolic diseases. Concurrently, preterm birth remains a significant public health concern affecting 5-18% of births worldwide. Here, we critically reviewed the current evidence regarding how maternal UPF consumption affects fetal development and how preterm birth disrupts metabolic programming. Furthermore, the information is presented on the potential synergistic effects when both factors are present. The mechanisms underlying these associations, including fetal malnutrition, inflammation, and hormonal dysregulation, are analyzed. Research suggests that maternal UPF consumption and preterm birth independently contribute to altered metabolic health in offspring, with potential compounding effects when both factors are present. This review highlights the public health implications of these findings and identifies areas requiring further research to better understand the complex interplay between maternal diet, preterm birth, and long-term metabolic health outcomes in offspring.
本综述探讨了人们日益关注的孕产妇超加工食品（UPF）消费、早产与后代随后发生代谢紊乱之间的关系。超加工食品在全球饮食中越来越普遍，与此同时代谢疾病的发病率也在上升。同时，早产仍然是一个重大的公共卫生问题，影响着全球5%-18%的分娩。在此，我们批判性地回顾了关于孕产妇UPF消费如何影响胎儿发育以及早产如何扰乱代谢编程的现有证据。此外，还介绍了这两个因素同时存在时的潜在协同效应。分析了这些关联背后的机制，包括胎儿营养不良、炎症和激素失调。研究表明，孕产妇UPF消费和早产独立地导致后代代谢健康改变，当这两个因素同时存在时可能产生复合效应。本综述强调了这些发现对公共卫生的影响，并确定了需要进一步研究的领域，以更好地理解孕产妇饮食、早产和后代长期代谢健康结果之间的复杂相互作用。
