Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months
Abstract The dietary glycemic index (GI) reflects post-prandial plasma glucose generation rate, with higher-GI foods rapidly increasing blood sugar. Prenatal consumption of high-GI foods is associated with offspring risk for obesity and metabolic disorders. The impact of prenatal dietary GI exposure...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91886-0 |
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| author | Elizabeth K. Wood Olivia Nomura Jennifer C. Ablow Annaliese Elliot Angela Horgan Joel T. Nigg Hanna C. Gustafsson Elinor L. Sullivan |
| author_facet | Elizabeth K. Wood Olivia Nomura Jennifer C. Ablow Annaliese Elliot Angela Horgan Joel T. Nigg Hanna C. Gustafsson Elinor L. Sullivan |
| author_sort | Elizabeth K. Wood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The dietary glycemic index (GI) reflects post-prandial plasma glucose generation rate, with higher-GI foods rapidly increasing blood sugar. Prenatal consumption of high-GI foods is associated with offspring risk for obesity and metabolic disorders. The impact of prenatal dietary GI exposure on infant neurodevelopment remains unclear. Maternal dietary intake, percent adiposity, and insulin resistance were prospectively assessed during the second and third trimesters in a sample of women with healthy, singleton pregnancies (N = 302). Infant negative affect was prospectively assessed at six months using observer ratings (Still Face Paradigm) and caregiver-reports (Infant-Behavior Questionnaire-Revised). Structural equation models assessed the independent effects of second and third trimester maternal dietary GI, adiposity, insulin resistance on infant negative affect, adjusted for relevant covariates. Higher third, but not second, trimester dietary GI was associated with increased observer-rated infant negative affect (β = 0.14, p = .04) and with higher caregiver-reported infant sadness (β = 0.17, p = .01), suggesting a programming effect of prenatal dietary GI on infant neurodevelopment. Targeted interventions that decrease dietary GI in later pregnancy may prove more effective for optimizing infant behavioral health compared to longer-term changes needed to alter metabolic state. Identifying modifiable early contributors to infant negative affect supports proactive strategies for mitigating future psychopathology risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f2c92df368504099aba1c4a4f92ddd2a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-f2c92df368504099aba1c4a4f92ddd2a2025-08-20T03:02:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-91886-0Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 monthsElizabeth K. Wood0Olivia Nomura1Jennifer C. Ablow2Annaliese Elliot3Angela Horgan4Joel T. Nigg5Hanna C. Gustafsson6Elinor L. Sullivan7Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science UniversityDepartment of Psychology, University of OregonDepartment of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science UniversityClinical & Translational Research Center, Oregon Health & Science UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science UniversityAbstract The dietary glycemic index (GI) reflects post-prandial plasma glucose generation rate, with higher-GI foods rapidly increasing blood sugar. Prenatal consumption of high-GI foods is associated with offspring risk for obesity and metabolic disorders. The impact of prenatal dietary GI exposure on infant neurodevelopment remains unclear. Maternal dietary intake, percent adiposity, and insulin resistance were prospectively assessed during the second and third trimesters in a sample of women with healthy, singleton pregnancies (N = 302). Infant negative affect was prospectively assessed at six months using observer ratings (Still Face Paradigm) and caregiver-reports (Infant-Behavior Questionnaire-Revised). Structural equation models assessed the independent effects of second and third trimester maternal dietary GI, adiposity, insulin resistance on infant negative affect, adjusted for relevant covariates. Higher third, but not second, trimester dietary GI was associated with increased observer-rated infant negative affect (β = 0.14, p = .04) and with higher caregiver-reported infant sadness (β = 0.17, p = .01), suggesting a programming effect of prenatal dietary GI on infant neurodevelopment. Targeted interventions that decrease dietary GI in later pregnancy may prove more effective for optimizing infant behavioral health compared to longer-term changes needed to alter metabolic state. Identifying modifiable early contributors to infant negative affect supports proactive strategies for mitigating future psychopathology risk.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91886-0Behavioral healthDietary qualityInfant temperamentPrenatal dietPrenatal programmingNegative affect |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth K. Wood Olivia Nomura Jennifer C. Ablow Annaliese Elliot Angela Horgan Joel T. Nigg Hanna C. Gustafsson Elinor L. Sullivan Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months Scientific Reports Behavioral health Dietary quality Infant temperament Prenatal diet Prenatal programming Negative affect |
| title | Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months |
| title_full | Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months |
| title_fullStr | Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months |
| title_full_unstemmed | Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months |
| title_short | Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months |
| title_sort | higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months |
| topic | Behavioral health Dietary quality Infant temperament Prenatal diet Prenatal programming Negative affect |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91886-0 |
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