Overweight during pregnancy predisposes both the mother and foetus to
health complications. Maternal complications include gestational
diabetes, obstetric problems and type 2 diabetes later in life.
Complications for the offspring are not only restricted to the foetal
period or birth, such as prematurity and foetal macrosomia, but may also
have long-term metabolic health implications through the mechanism of
early nutrition programming. One of the key metabolic components
characterising overweight in the non-pregnant state is low-grade
inflammation manifested by elevated levels of circulatory
pro-inflammatory cytokines. In pregnancy, in addition to adipose tissue
and placenta, inflammatory response may originate from the gut. The
extent to which overweight induces metabolic maladaptation during
pregnancy and further compromises maternal and child health is currently
poorly understood. In this review, we evaluate recent scientific
literature and describe the suggested links between overweight, gut and
low-grade inflammation associated metabolic disorders. We focus on
overweight pregnant women and gestational diabetes, and discuss how
specific dietary factors, probiotics and long-chain polyunsaturated
fatty acids (fish oil), might confer health benefits in combatting
against metabolic risk factors.