Influence of mother nutrition during pregnancy and/or lactation on offspring food preference in experimental models

Abstract

Understanding associations between food preferences and maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation could inform efforts to understanding the obesity mechanisms and provide insight to prevent it. Objective: To identify studies that investigated the effects of nutritional interventions during the pregnancy and lactation on the food preferences of offspring. Method: The review was conducted with search for articles in the databases: Scopus, Pubmed, Medline, LILACS, Scielo and Science Direct. Exclusion criteria were used: reviews, human studies, studies with drugs or other substances not related to food. Results: At the end of the search in the databases, 176 references were found. After use the exclusion criteria, reading the titles, abstracts and full articles, were selected 11 articles to compose the review. Conclusion: The selected studies suggested that unbalanced nutrition in early life alters the food preference and neural components related to the consumption of fatty and sugary foods in offspring rodents.

Maternal and household factors affecting the dietary diversity of preschool children in eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…For example, Haramaya mothers in this sample who prefer foods that include animal sources were five times more likely to feed their children adequate diversity than those who avoid it. This aligns with a study conducted in experimental models that the mother’s food preference and nutrition during pregnancy and lactation affect the offspring’s food preference and neural components 68. Foods disliked by mothers tended not to be offered to children 69.…”

“…This aligns with a study conducted in experimental models that the mother’s food preference and nutrition during pregnancy and lactation affect the offspring’s food preference and neural components. 68 Foods disliked by mothers tended not to be offered to children. 69 A child’s preferences depend on early exposure to family foods that contribute to shaping food preferences later.…”

Association between breast-feeding exposure and duration with offspring’s dietary patterns over 1 year of age: a systematic review of observational studies

“…Besides the feeding practices in the first years of life, maternal influences might also determine the dietary patterns at later ages. Accumulating evidence from experimental studies indicates that maternal intake of foods rich in fat, sugar, and sodium during pregnancy and lactation is accompanied by a higher preference for these foods in their offspring (60,61) . Similarly, several observational studies have shown a positive association between maternal and child dietary intakes and diet quality (62)(63)(64) .…”