A recent study conducted by Washington University in Ecuador has highlighted the importance of dietary health for pregnant individuals, with findings that may inform nutritional needs in St. Louis. The trial, known as Mikhuna, meaning "nourish" in Kichwa, took place from 2023 to 2025. Led by Lora Iannotti, a professor at the Bursky School of Public Health, the study observed that pregnant women who consumed a diet rich in healthy proteins, fruits, and vegetables experienced significant fetal brain development.
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The trial involved 215 healthy pregnant women in low-resource communities near Quito, Ecuador. Participants were divided into an intervention group, which received weekly deliveries of nutritious food such as eggs, fish, fruits, and vegetables, and a control group that received standard prenatal care.
By late pregnancy, the women in the intervention group demonstrated a more diverse diet, and ultrasound imaging revealed greater fetal brain growth compared to the control group. Notably, areas of the fetal brain associated with movement, sensory processing, and reasoning showed enhanced development. Iannotti suggested that the consumption of fish may have contributed to this growth, though a definitive conclusion has yet to be drawn.
Iannotti pointed out that staple foods, often carbohydrate-heavy, dominate diets in various regions, including rice in Ecuador and maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, about 60% of caloric intake comes from staples like rice, corn, and wheat, which can limit access to healthy proteins and vegetables, particularly for impoverished populations. In the greater St. Louis area, where over 173,000 children live in poverty, access to nutritious food is similarly problematic.
To address these issues, Iannotti and her team are currently researching nutritious and accessible foods in St. Louis, focusing on options that are native to the region. She emphasized the need for greater awareness regarding healthier local food choices, such as pawpaws, mushrooms, pecans, and hazelnuts. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish food forests in St. Louis, aiming to improve food access in underserved areas.
The Mikhuna study was funded by the Children’s Discovery Institute, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, and WashU Medicine, with a total cost of approximately $500,000.