The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-sponsored workshop, Maternal and Perinatal Nutritional Programming of Lung Health and Disease in Childhood and Early Adulthood: Research Gaps and Opportunities, was convened (October 24-25, 2024) to explore how nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy influences lung development and respiratory health across the lifespan. The workshop focused on identifying critical knowledge gaps, mechanistic pathways, and intervention opportunities. Presentations spanned maternal dietary patterns, specific nutrient supplementation, gestational weight gain, and the role of maternal obesity in offspring wheeze and asthma. The role of early postnatal nutrition, particularly human milk for preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was emphasized. Emerging areas included circadian rhythms and the maternal and infant microbiome, metabolome, and epigenome in mediating nutrition-related respiratory outcomes. Research needs included randomized trials of dietary interventions, mechanistic studies to elucidate biological pathways, and implementation strategies to integrate nutritional interventions into practice. Vulnerable populations were emphasized, including preterm infants and families experiencing food insecurity. Participants emphasized the need for a coordinated research agenda to inform future interventions that could improve outcomes across generations.
McEvoy et al. (2026) studied this question.