Vitamin D (VD), a fat-soluble vitamin, has a variety of functions that are important for growth and development, including regulation of cell differentiation and apoptosis, immune system development, and brain development. As such, VD status during pregnancy is critical for maternal health, fetal skeletal growth, and optimal pregnancy outcomes. Studies have confirmed that adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, low birth weight, neonatal hypocalcemia, poor postnatal growth, skeletal fragility, and increased incidence of autoimmune diseases, can be associated with low VD levels during pregnancy and infancy. Thus, there is growing interest in the role of VD during pregnancy. This review summarizes the potential adverse health outcomes of maternal VD status during pregnancy for both mother and offspring (gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive gestational hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth) and discusses the underlying mechanisms (regulation of cytokine pathways, immune system processing, internal secretion, placental function, etc.) of VD in regulating each of the outcomes. This review aims to provide a basis for public health intervention strategies to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancies.

Immune system maturation begins early in life, but few studies have examined how early-life gut microbiota colonization educates the neonatal immune system. Bifidobacteria predominate in the intestines of breastfed infants and metabolize human milk oligosaccharides. This glycolytic activity alters the intestinal microenvironment and consequently stimulates immune system maturation at the neonatal stage. However, few studies have provided mechanistic insights into the contribution of ‘infant-type’ Bifidobacterium species, especially via metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. In this review, we highlight the first 1000 days of life, which provide a window of opportunity for infant-type bifidobacteria to educate the neonatal immune system. Furthermore, we discuss the instrumental role of infant-type bifidobacteria in the education of the neonatal immune system by inducing immune tolerance and suppressing intestinal inflammation, and the potential underlying mechanism of this immune effect in the first 1000 days of life. We also summarize recent research that suggests the administration of infant-type bifidobacteria helps to modify the intestinal microecology and prevent the progress of immune-mediated disorders.

Background: Although the problem of malnutrition among children in China has greatly improved in recent years, there is a gap compared to developed countries, and there are differences between provinces. Research on long-term comprehensive trends in child growth failure (CGF) in China is needed for further improvement. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine trends in stunting, wasting, and underweight among children younger than 5 years in China from 2000 to 2019, and predict CGF till 2030. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the local burden of disease (LBD) database. Using Joinpoint Regression Software, we examined trends in CGF among children younger than 5 years in China from 2000 to 2019, and predicted the trends of prevalence in 2030, using the Holt-Winters model with trends but without seasonal components. The assessment was performed with Stata 17 (StataCorp). Data were analyzed from October 17, 2023, to November 22, 2023. Results: In 2019, the prevalences of stunting, wasting, and underweight decreased to 12%, 3%, and 4%, respectively (decreases of 36.9%, 25.0%, and 42.9%, respectively, compared with the values in 2000). The prevalence of CGF decreased rapidly from 2000 to 2010, and the downward trend slowed down after 2010. Most provinces had stagnated processes of trends after 2017. The age group with the highest stunting prevalence was children aged 1 to 4 years, and the highest prevalence of wasting and underweight was noted in early neonatal infants. From 2000 to 2019, the prevalence of CGF declined in all age groups of children. The largest relative decrease in stunting and underweight was noted in children aged 1 to 4 years, and the largest decrease in wasting was noted in early neonatal infants. The prevalences of stunting, wasting, and underweight in China are estimated to decrease to 11.4%, 3.2%, and 4.1%, respectively, by 2030. China has nationally met the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Targets for 2030 for stunting but not for wasting. Conclusions: This study provides data on the prevalence and trends of CGF among children younger than 5 years and reports declines in CGF. There remain areas with slow progress in China. Most units have achieved the goal for stunting prevalence but not wasting prevalence.

The gut microbiota influences many aspects of the host, including immune system maturation, nutrient absorption and metabolism, and protection from pathogens. Increasing evidences from cohort and animal studies indicate that changes in the gut microbiota early in life increases the risk of developing specific diseases early and later in life. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to identify specific disease prevention or therapeutic solutions targeting the gut microbiota, especially during infancy, which is the window of the human gut microbiota establishment process. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge concerning the relationship between disturbances in the gut microbiota early in life and health consequences later in life (e.g., necrotizing enterocolitis, celiac disease, asthma, allergies, autism spectrum disorders, overweight/obesity, diabetes and growth retardation), with a focus on changes in the gut microbiota prior to disease onset. In addition, we summarize and discuss potential microbiota-based interventions early in life (e.g., diet adjustments, probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, environmental changes) to promote health or prevent the development of specific diseases. This knowledge should aid the understanding of early life microbiology and inform the development of prediction and prevention measures for short- and long-term health disorders based on the gut microbiota.