Frontiers in Nutrition
The effects of maternal dietary fiber and short-chain fatty acids on the health of offspring: a mini review
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is a critical determinant of offspring long-term health. Dietary fiber has emerged as a key modifiable factor. Through gut microbial fermentation, fiber is converted into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate. This mini review synthesizes current evidence from molecular, animal, and human studies on the role of maternal SCFAs in programming offspring metabolic and immune health. Mechanistically, SCFAs act via two complementary pathways: acti …