Editorial: Nutrition, inflammation and oxidative stress in obstetrics and gynecology

Oxidative stress (OS) and chronic low-grade inflammation are pivotal in the pathophysiology of numerous reproductive and metabolic disorders from infertility, pregnancy complications to menopausal transitions. Nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental exposures strongly influences these processes, shaping redox homeostasis, immune responses, and vascular function. Dietary antioxidants, pro-inflammatory dietary patterns, and metabolic dysregulation form a complex network linking oxidative imbalance to hormonal and vascular dysfunction.The aim of this Research Topic was to elucidate how nutritional factors modulate inflammation and oxidative stress across obstetric and gynecologic conditions, combining mechanistic, observational, and interventional perspectives. These multidimensional relationships, nineteen peer-reviewed papers were included, encompassing observational studies, reviews, cross-sectional studies and mechanistic analyses.Several studies addressed metabolic and micronutrient imbalances as modulators of pregnancy outcomes.showed that higher maternal serum ferritin concentrations in early and late gestation were independently associated to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a longitudinal cohort, consistent with ferritin's dual role as an iron-storage and acute-phase inflammatory protein. Although direct measurements of oxidative stress and inflammation were not performed, ferritin, as an acute-phase reactant, may indirectly reflect oxidative and inflammatory processes relevant to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Together, these studies underscore that metabolic, lipid, and micronutrient disturbances serve as both markers and mediators of pregnancy-related oxidative stress and inflammation, highlighting their potential relevance for early risk assessment and the development of targeted nutritional strategies.Endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disorder with systemic alterations, was discussed several articles. These insights converge on metabolic optimization through lifestyle and dietary interventions as a strategy to reduce oxidative and inflammation burden, and hormonal imbalances, improving both ovarian and bone health in women with metabolicreproductive disorders. Together, these studies highlight how nutritional status and dietary composition influence systemic inflammation and endocrine function beyond reproductive health. Micronutrient deficiencies, unbalanced dietary patterns, and excessive intake of additives or sweeteners emerge as important modifiers of oxidative and metabolic homeostasis in women. These findings support the growing recognition that optimizing diet quality may contribute to the prevention of inflammatory and metabolic disorders throughout the female lifespan.Oral health, an often-overlooked marker of systemic inflammation, was also explored. In this context, periodontitis -a major inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, is epidemiologically associated with other chronic inflammation-driven disorders.Wang et al. associated the triglyceride-glucose index and body roundness index with periodontitis risk, suggesting a metabolic-inflammatory bridge between oral and systemic health. (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1642112/full Although behavioral determinants such as oral hygiene were not assessed, this large-scale cross-sectional analysis provides valuable epidemiological insight and supports the growing evidence linking metabolic dysregulation with inflammatory periodontal disease. This finding highlights the increasing recognition of oral health as a vital component of systemic metabolic and inflammatory homeostasis.