Mediterranean diet in pregnancy linked to lower infant colic and eczema risk

A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of infants developing both colic and eczema. The research, conducted as part of Project Viva by investigators from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, tracked over 1,300 women in Massachusetts.

Researchers utilized a Mediterranean diet adherence score (MDS) and a dietary inflammatory index (DII) to evaluate nutritional habits. Findings indicated that each additional point on the MDS scale was linked to a 15% reduction in the combined risk of colic and eczema in newborns. Conversely, every additional point on the DII—which measures inflammatory potential from foods like red meat and sugary drinks—was associated with a 34% increase in risk.

Seafood consumption also showed a protective effect. For every additional weekly serving of fish or other seafood consumed during pregnancy, the probability of an infant presenting with both conditions decreased by 25%. The study found no significant statistical links between the consumption of common allergens, such as nuts, eggs, or dairy, and the subsequent development of these infant conditions.