Mediterranean diet and infant health research

Research indicates that a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy may influence infant health outcomes. A study involving over 1,300 pregnant women found that infants born to mothers following this diet were significantly less likely to experience colic and eczema. Additionally, regular seafood consumption during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk for these conditions.

Conversely, diets with higher inflammatory indices were linked to a markedly elevated risk for these infant conditions. Researchers noted that the presence of both colic and eczema in infancy may identify children at the highest risk for developing atopic conditions later in life, such as asthma, seasonal rhinitis, and food allergies.

New findings published in JAMA Network Open by researchers from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute further detail these connections. Part of the Project Viva study, which tracked participants in Eastern Massachusetts, the research suggests that maternal diet during pregnancy can influence these risks. This study marks a shift from previous research, which primarily focused on dietary changes after birth or infant formula choices.

Specific data from the Project Viva study, which followed participants between 1999 and 2002, indicates that for every additional unit on the Mediterranean Diet Score, the risk of colic and eczema decreases by 15%. In contrast, a higher Dietary Inflammation Index—linked to high intake of sugar, refined grains, and processed meats—is associated with a 34% increase in risk. Furthermore, weekly seafood consumption was linked to a 25% reduction in the likelihood of infants experiencing both conditions.