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Mediterranean diet and infant health study

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2026-10-20 05:08 UTC → 2026-10-27 08:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Research published in JAMA Network Open, involving over 1,300 women in Massachusetts as part of Project Viva, indicates that adherence to a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of infants developing both colic and eczema. Using a Mediterranean diet adherence score (MDS) and a dietary inflammatory index (DII), investigators from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute found that each additional point on the MDS scale linked to a 15 percent reduction in the combined risk of these conditions. In contrast, each additional point on the DII—measuring inflammatory potential from foods such as red meat and sugary drinks—was associated with a 34 percent increase in risk. Seafood consumption showed a protective effect, with each additional weekly serving of fish or shellfish linked to a 25 percent lower probability of an infant presenting with both conditions. The study noted that the strongest associations were observed in infants whose mothers had existing allergies. No significant statistical links were found regarding the consumption of common allergens like nuts, eggs, or dairy. Follow-up analysis of the Project Viva cohort, which included 1,324 mother-child pairs, emphasized that dietary patterns during the first and second trimesters play a significant role in shaping early childhood health outcomes at six months of age.

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