A Mediterranean-style way of eating during pregnancy is linked to a lower chance of infants developing colic and eczema, according to News-Medical. The outlet published the report on Monday, October 12, 2026.
News-Medical reports that the association covers two common conditions in early infancy: colic, which involves prolonged crying in otherwise healthy babies, and eczema, a skin condition that often appears in the first months of life. Both were found less often among infants whose mothers ate in the Mediterranean pattern while expecting, per the outlet.
The Mediterranean diet is generally built around plant foods, olive oil, fish and whole grains, with less red meat and processed food. News-Medical's report frames the finding as a maternal nutrition link, meaning the mother's diet during pregnancy — rather than anything done after birth — is the factor under study. The summary did not include the size of the study, the specific foods involved, or the population examined.
Because only the headline and summary were available, several details remain unclear, including how the research was designed and whether the pattern held across different groups of women. The reported connection is an association, and the material does not establish that the diet itself caused the lower risk.
What to watch next: the full study, once available, should clarify the study design, the number of mothers and infants involved, and whether researchers accounted for other lifestyle factors.
