New studies reveal personalized nutrition’s role in prenatal and infant health

New research is underscoring how personalized nutrition based on genetic insights can improve pregnancy care and the long-term health of mothers and children. Studies highlight how tailored dietary and supplement choices can significantly reduce health risks and improve outcomes, moving beyond traditional “one-size-fits-all” advice.

One finding, recently published in Nature, confirms for the first time that maternal obesity can independently induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adult offspring.

This study reveals that obesity during pregnancy causes lasting changes in fetal liver immune cells, changes that persist into adulthood and involve epigenetic reprogramming, thereby increasing vulnerability to chronic disease.

“Maternal nutrition also shapes fetal growth and development at the molecular level, influencing long-term health outcomes for the child,” states precision medicine provider BGI Genomics, in a new report summarizing the findings of these studies.

Safeguarding generational health

BGI Genomics highlights significant implications of personalized nutrition in preventive care. Adapting a prenatal diet based on genetic insights and real-time biomarkers can lower a child’s risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

“It’s not just about adding supplements. It’s about the right nutrients for the right person at the right time,” stresses BGI Genomics.

Obesity during pregnancy causes lasting changes in fetal liver immune cells, changes that persist into adulthood.Advancements in genomic technologies offer deeper insights. Genetic screening during the reproductive stage is no longer limited to identifying risk. It now offers crucial information on how an individual mother’s body responds to specific nutrients, enabling more precise and effective dietary choices.

For example, understanding genetic predispositions affecting iron absorption or folate metabolism — two vital pregnancy nutrients — can optimize supplementation and improve recovery after delivery.

While BGI Genomics is primarily known for its genetic testing services, particularly Nutritional Intervention and Drug Safety Testing (NIPT), its work also touches upon nutritional aspects within a broader health and research context. 

NIPT includes comprehensive panels for detecting human vitamins (ten kinds), trace elements and heavy metals (15), amino acids (20), steroid hormones (13), and “Nutrition Testing during Pregnancy” (30), along with breast milk nutritional components (26). 

Furthermore, the company’s extensive genomic research, including leveraging NIPT data, extends to understanding the genetic basis of pregnancy-related conditions like gestational diabetes mellitus, where nutrition plays a crucial role. 

Global surge in obesity-impacted pregnancies

This renewed focus on individual metabolic and genetic profiles is timely given alarming global trends. A study in the International Journal of Population Data Science reveals a global surge in overweight and obesity among pregnant women.

In North America, the figure has increased to one in four pregnancies affected by obesity since 2020, compared to one in six globally. 

“Genetic insights offer a way to localize Western clinical guidelines, ensuring they reflect cultural and biological variations across different populations,” notes BGI Genomics.

“Applying these tools early allows couples to make more informed reproductive decisions, reduce birth defects, and plan for personalized prenatal care from day one. Reproductive genetic screening is no longer simply about detecting disease. It’s about guiding the entire pregnancy journey with precision and empathy.”

Precision nutrition advances

Earlier this year, 10X Health launched the first patented “precision” genetic test recording biological and nutritional data “with 99.97% accuracy” in the UK. It includes a comprehensive 400+ page report with insights about nutrition, weight management, and lifestyle factors.

Focus on nutrition and personalized services to accentuate medical therapies in healthcare is growing, as one survey by supplement brand Dr. Vegan found nearly nine in ten (86%) respondents expect general practitioners to be trained in nutrition, and to offer personalized nutrition advice if it’s a suitable alternative to medication (89%).

Another survey by The Rockefeller Foundation found more than four in five respondents believe healthcare should offer more food and nutrition programs as common practice. Notably, 79% — 85% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans — support that Food is Medicine programs should be covered by private and public insurance.