Featured Collection in The Journal of Nutrition
*This collection was prepared by Libo Tan, PhD, Editorial Science Fellow at The Journal of Nutrition.
Nutrition plays a critical role in shaping health from pregnancy through childhood. Maternal diet influences the nutritional environment experienced by the developing fetus and infant, while early feeding practices and nutrient status continue to affect growth, body composition, and long-term health outcomes. This featured collection highlights seven recent studies published in The Journal of Nutrition that advance our understanding of nutrition, growth, and development across early life, from pregnancy and lactation to childhood.
Maternal Diet Quality and BMI as Predictors of Human Milk C-Reactive Protein Concentrations
How does maternal nutritional status influence the inflammatory profile of human milk? This study examined associations between maternal diet quality, body mass index, and human milk C-reactive protein concentrations, providing new insights into factors that may shape the infant feeding environment.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.06.004
Effects of Vitamin D₃ Supplementation During Pregnancy and Lactation on Maternal and Infant Biomarkers of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Growth
This study investigated whether maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation influences maternal and infant biomarkers related to inflammation, gut health, and growth. The findings contribute to the growing evidence base supporting maternal micronutrient interventions.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.08.032
Maternal Supplementation of Dietary Choline and DHA During Gestational Nutrition Restriction Alters Hepatic mRNA and miRNA Expression Patterns in Full-Term Fetal Pigs
Using a translational animal model, researchers demonstrated that maternal choline and DHA supplementation can alter fetal hepatic gene and microRNA expression patterns, offering mechanistic insights into developmental programming by maternal nutrition.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.01.012
A Large Proportion of the Neonatal Iron Pool Is Acquired from the Gestational Diet in a Murine Model
This study highlights the importance of maternal dietary iron intake during pregnancy, showing that a substantial proportion of neonatal iron stores are derived directly from the gestational diet.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.05.021
Breastfeeding, the Gut Microbiome, and Growth among Infants in Lusaka, Zambia
How are breastfeeding practices linked to microbial development and infant growth? This study explored the complex interactions among breastfeeding, the infant gut microbiome, and growth trajectories in a Zambian cohort.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.10.026
Complementary Food Supplements Fill Energy and Protein Gaps among Children with Dietary Inadequacy in Rural Bangladesh
Researchers evaluated the potential of complementary food supplements to address energy and protein deficiencies among young children in rural Bangladesh, providing evidence to inform nutrition interventions in vulnerable populations.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.12.001
Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Patterns Are Associated with Skeletal Muscle Mass in Chinese Children
This study identified associations between erythrocyte fatty acid profiles and skeletal muscle mass in children, suggesting that fatty acid status may serve as a useful biomarker of growth and body composition.
Read & comment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.01.001
Together, these studies demonstrate the diverse ways nutrition influences health across early life. From maternal nutrient intake and breast milk composition to infant feeding practices, micronutrient status, and childhood growth, these investigations provide valuable insights for researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals. We invite readers to explore this collection and consider how these findings may inform future research, policy, and practice in maternal and child nutrition.
