{"id":494,"date":"2025-04-10T17:13:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T15:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/?post_type=news&#038;p=494"},"modified":"2025-04-11T17:58:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T15:58:34","slug":"maternal-nutrition-and-neurodevelopment-what-the-food-industry-needs-to-know","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/news\/nutrition-maternelle-et-neurodeveloppement-ce-que-lindustrie-agroalimentaire-doit-savoir\/","title":{"rendered":"Maternal nutrition: our children are what we eat during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>It's well known that a mother's food shapes her child's brain. The question is: to what extent and over what period of time? A recent study reminds us that, in nature, there are no nutritional shortcuts. So what if the old saying \u00abWe are what we eat\u00bb is incomplete? The new data suggests instead that diet during pregnancy clearly defines the long-term health of the child, in particular its cognitive faculties.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent research published in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42255-025-01230-z.epdf?sharing_token=lvS3wUCV-amlCunc4cfycdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0NJhCjo7AkubRrD2Sf0n4jWpvZ2_3vitnsXkHhTk7osr8UotlMMsHvp_Kj1X5-EI8cTM3PIwcx6gXbfPYxQjLn5YoHk8IaNog5JZLitxVyT7vItijzk9mz9aMW3N5PZ4m8%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nature Metabolism<\/a><\/em> reveals a worrying correlation between a Western-style diet during pregnancy and an increased risk of cognitive disorders in the child, particularly the<strong>ADHD and autism<\/strong>. This discovery is not just a scientific curiosity - it's clearly a call for innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Western cocktails under the microscope <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to this new study : <strong>even a slight deviation<\/strong> Switching to a Western diet during pregnancy is associated with a significant increase in the risk of ADHD and autism. This diet would create <strong>a metabolic environment potentially detrimental to the neurological development of the foetus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Protective vs. non-protective foods: few surprises, but some damage <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the study focuses on overall dietary patterns rather than specific foods, the findings clearly identify two categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The <\/strong>\u00ab\u00a0<strong>bad<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb(non-protective):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Foods rich in saturated fats<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Products with a high added sugar content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/news\/ultra-processed-foods-and-health-implications-for-ingredient-producers\/\">Ultra-processed foods<\/a> with additives and preservatives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Good<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb(protectors):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fish rich in omega-3 (tuna, salmon, herring, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A variety of colourful vegetables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fresh fruit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The novelty of this study comes from the <strong>metabolome<\/strong>. This refers to all the metabolites produced by cells, tissues or organisms at a given time. It reflects the physiological and metabolic state in response to internal or external factors (diet, stress, disease, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study identified 43 specific metabolites linked to the Western diet, including <strong>15 directly reinforce the association with ADHD risk<\/strong>. These biomarkers could become <strong>the benchmark for assessing the nutritional quality of products intended for pregnant women<\/strong>. For ingredient suppliers, this is a new performance measure to add to your technical data sheets!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A complex trio: genetics, BMI and timing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you thought the equation was that simple, think again. The impact of diet is modulated by three key factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Genetic predisposition<\/strong> The harmful effects of the Western diet are amplified in children with a genetic susceptibility.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maternal BMI<\/strong> : A high BMI prior to pregnancy increases the risks, particularly for women who are <strong>boys<\/strong>.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The sensitive period of development<\/strong> The timing of exposure to (or deficiency of) certain nutrients is critical. Although the study does not precisely specify the most critical trimesters, the general scientific data indicate that :<br>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The first quarter<\/strong> is crucial for the formation of basic brain structures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The second and third quarters<\/strong> are essential for neuronal maturation and the establishment of brain circuits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Maternal nutrition must evolve<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This notion of\u00ab\u00a0<strong>nutritional window of opportunity<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bbrepresents a new paradigm: the development of specific nutritional solutions for each phase of pregnancy. It's no longer just a question of \u00abwhat to eat\u00bb, but \u00abhow to eat it\".\u00ab\u00a0<strong>when to eat what<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb ! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1Reinventing B2B formulations for prenatal nutrition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This multifactorial complexity paves the way for personalised and chronologically adapted nutritional solutions - a premium market segment that is still largely untapped:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients<\/strong> based on concentrates of plant extracts specifically targeting the 15 metabolites identified as problematic.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solutions for replacing saturated fats<\/strong> with healthier alternatives, from\u2019<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/news\/plant-proteins-panorama-of-new-players-in-2025\/\">plant origin<\/a>.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nutritional complexes for sensitive periods<\/strong> By creating blends of ingredients specifically formulated for each trimester of pregnancy, with T1 formulations rich in folic acid and antioxidants for the formation of brain structures, T2 formulations concentrated in DHA and phospholipids for myelination, and T3 formulations optimised for synaptogenesis and neuronal connectivity. For example.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The market is ripe for \u00abprenatal neuroprotective\u00bb ingredients with scientifically validated claims. Don't wait for your competitors to move into this territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion: turning research into opportunities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientific discoveries linking prenatal nutrition to the risk of ADHD and autism represent a fundamental shift in the market. The companies in the segment that can turn this knowledge into innovative solutions, value-added services and optimised ingredients will be the leaders of tomorrow. Don't just follow this trend - anticipate it, shape it, and position your company today as a key player in this prenatal nutrition revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because beyond the sales figures, this is a rare opportunity to combine economic performance with a positive social impact. And in a world of companies desperately seeking to give meaning to their activity, this is an objective that deserves your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42255-025-01230-z.epdf?sharing_token=lvS3wUCV-amlCunc4cfycdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0NJhCjo7AkubRrD2Sf0n4jWpvZ2_3vitnsXkHhTk7osr8UotlMMsHvp_Kj1X5-EI8cTM3PIwcx6gXbfPYxQjLn5YoHk8IaNog5JZLitxVyT7vItijzk9mz9aMW3N5PZ4m8%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Horner, D., Jepsen, J.R.M., Chawes, B. et al. (2025). A western dietary pattern during pregnancy is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and adolescence. <em>Nature Metabolism<\/em>.<\/a><br><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false},"class_list":["post-494","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}