Summary:
This study is a synthesis of 12 papers examining diet and reproductive health across preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, and reproductive ageing, with the aim of improving understanding of how dietary intake, nutritional status, and supplementation influence fertility and maternal-offspring outcomes. Several human studies show that maternal diet and physiology interact to influence fetal growth and nutrient exposure. One study using neonatal meconium as a biomarker found associations between maternal body composition and dietary patterns and fetal trace mineral exposure, particularly for iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. Maternal adiposity was linked with lower neonatal iron status, while certain dietary patterns (e.g higher fruit and vegetable intake) were associated with differences in trace elements. Supplement use showed limited associations, suggesting that overall dietary patterns and absorption factors may be more influential than supplementation alone in some contexts. Across multiple cohorts, adherence to dietary guidelines was generally low, with wide variation in intake of key food groups such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This highlights the value of dietary frameworks for improving cross-population comparison and strengthening links between preconception diet and fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Postpartum research in Japan reported low calcium and vitamin D intake alongside low vitamin D status. In contrast, a twin pregnancy study found no association between vitamin D status and birth size, with placental factors and maternal height showing stronger relationships, suggesting that biology may outweigh micronutrient effects in certain contexts. A large US dataset also showed clear social patterns of nutrient status, with lower iron and other micronutrient levels more common among women from lower-income backgrounds and among Black women, reinforcing the role of structural inequities in shaping nutritional risk. Review papers further emphasised that preconception lifestyle factors including diet quality, body composition, and physical activity are central to fertility outcomes. Additional evidence highlights breastfeeding as important for neurodevelopment, immune function, and maternal wellbeing, while a systematic review found an association between lower vitamin D status and perinatal depressive symptoms. Overall, this synthesis indicates that improving reproductive nutrition research requires stronger dietary measurement approaches and greater attention to social determinants of health.
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Abstract:
N/A – not listed
Article Publication Date: 26/02/2026
DOI: 10.3390/nu18030412
