The role of climate change in maternal nutrition and fetal development: a narrative review

Abstract

Climate change, driven by both natural processes and anthropogenic activities, exerts profound effects on atmospheric and environmental conditions. Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in fetal growth, development, and pregnancy outcomes; thus, disruptions in food systems caused by climate change pose significant risks to maternal and child health, particularly in low-income regions already burdened by malnutrition. Environmental stressors associated with climate change can compromise dietary quality and reduce the availability of essential micronutrients, thereby exacerbating adverse health outcomes in mothers and their offspring. Many of these outcomes are mediated through epigenetic mechanisms, suggesting that climate change may indirectly influence the epigenetic programming of diseases across generations. Understanding these links is crucial for elucidating how climate-driven alterations in maternal nutrition contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes and long-term metabolic disorders in offspring. This narrative review examines the epigenetic implications of climate change on maternal nutrition and fetal development. It explores the impact of climate variability on agricultural productivity and nutrient composition, the consequences of food insecurity for maternal and neonatal health, and the influence of temperature extremes and air pollution on pregnancy outcomes. The review also discusses potential mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce climate-induced risks to maternal and fetal health. Ultimately, climate change threatens maternal and fetal well-being by diminishing food quality and micronutrient availability, with enduring effects mediated through epigenetic pathways. Addressing these challenges requires longitudinal, population-specific studies and integrated nutrition-environment frameworks to inform effective public health interventions and policy responses.