Infants born to mothers who maintain a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy experience a significantly reduced risk of developing both colic and eczema. Published Oct. 12 in JAMA Network Open, a new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute reveals that maternal nutrition directly influences these infant conditions.
While the study found that 26% of participating infants developed colic and 5% experienced both colic and eczema, contrasting dietary patterns yielded starkly different risks. Mothers who adhered more closely to a Mediterranean diet lowered their chances of having a baby with both conditions, with each higher point on the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) associated with a 15% reduction in risk. By contrast, each higher point on the Dietary Inflammation Index (DII)—which measures less healthful diets high in red or processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium, and refined grains—was associated with a 34% higher risk.
Assessing Dietary Patterns and Seafood Intake
To evaluate overall nutrition rather than single foods, researchers analyzed regular food questionnaires completed by more than 1,300 pregnant women recruited into the Project Viva study from prenatal clinics in Eastern Massachusetts between April 1999 and November 2002. The MDS measured high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats alongside moderate dairy and lean proteins, while the DII distinguished inflammatory patterns.
Beyond the overall eating patterns, specific food choices also impacted outcomes. The researchers found that for each weekly serving of seafood a pregnant woman consumed, her infant had a 25% lower chance of having colic and eczema. Meanwhile, other common allergenic foods—including dairy, eggs, and nuts—showed no relation to infants developing colic and eczema.
Allergy History and Broader Implications
Researchers also highlighted that while mothers want to do everything possible for their babies, financial and structural barriers often impede access to healthy nutrition, pointing to the potential value of support services and federal programs like WIC.
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