Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and intelligence quotients in the offspring at 8 years of age: Findings from the ALSPAC cohort

Abstract

Dietary intake during pregnancy may influence child neurodevelopment and cognitive function. This study aims to investigate the associations between dietary patterns obtained in pregnancy and intelligence quotients (IQ) among offspring at 8 years of age. Pregnant women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children completed a food frequency questionnaire at 32 weeks' gestation (n = 12,195). Dietary patterns were obtained by cluster analysis. Three clusters best described women's diets during pregnancy: “fruit and vegetables,” “meat and potatoes,” and “white bread and coffee.” The offspring's IQ at 8 years of age was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Models, using variables correlated to IQ data, were performed to impute missing values. Linear regression models were employed to investigate associations between the maternal clusters and IQ in childhood. Children of women who were classified in the meat and potatoes cluster and white bread and coffee cluster during pregnancy had lower average verbal (β = −1.74; p < .001 and β = −3.05; p < .001), performance (β = −1.26; p = .011 and β = −1.75; p < .001), and full‐scale IQ (β = −1.74; p < .001 and β = −2.79; p < .001) at 8 years of age when compared to children of mothers in the fruit and vegetables cluster in imputed models of IQ and all confounders, after adjustment for a wide range of known confounders including maternal education. The pregnant women who were classified in the fruit and vegetables cluster had offspring with higher average IQ compared with offspring of mothers in the meat and potatoes cluster and white bread and coffee cluster.

Periconceptional Maternal Mediterranean Diet Is Associated With Favorable Offspring Behaviors and Altered CpG Methylation of Imprinted Genes

“…Among 23,020 children in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, Jacka et al (2013) reported that “unhealthy” maternal diet patterns during pregnancy were associated with increased externalizing child behaviors. A recent study in the United Kingdom suggested that maternal diets characterized by higher intakes of fruits and vegetables and lower intakes of meat and potatoes are associated with higher child IQ at age 8 years ( Freitas-Vilela et al, 2017 ). In the Generation R study involving 3,104 children, investigators reported decreased levels of externalizing behaviors from children born to mothers who adhered to a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy, and increased child externalizing behaviors in children born to mothers who consumed a “Traditionally Dutch” diet consisting of high meat intake (processed and unprocessed), margarines and potatoes ( Steenweg-de Graaff et al, 2014 ).…”

Dietary Determinants of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Status in a High Fish-Eating Cohort during Pregnancy

“…Optimal nutrition is important for pregnant women as the developing foetus relies on maternal intake of nutrients critical for foetal growth and development [ 1 , 2 ]. The n -3 long chain PUFA (LCPUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the n -6 LCPUFA, arachidonic acid (AA), are required for growth and development of the brain [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

Relationship between pregestational nutritional status and type of processing of foods consumed by high-risk pregnant women

“…responsible for promoting the neurodevelopment of children, which reinforces the importance of having a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy even begins. 21 Thus, prenatal care is of fundamental importance to encourage, guide and motivate pregnant women by promoting healthy eating habits 22 and by monitoring the health of the mother and the fetus. 21 In a study on the healthy eating index of Brazilian pregnant women, the overall dietary intake of pregnant women was assessed based on three food groups(vegetables, fruits and beans and other protein-rich vegetables), two ratios (red/white meat and polyunsaturated/saturated fat) and five nutrients (fiber, trans fat, calcium, folate and iron) and it was found that most of them lacked dietary intake improvements, thus showing the need to deliver food education at this stage of life.…”

“…21 Thus, prenatal care is of fundamental importance to encourage, guide and motivate pregnant women by promoting healthy eating habits 22 and by monitoring the health of the mother and the fetus. 21 In a study on the healthy eating index of Brazilian pregnant women, the overall dietary intake of pregnant women was assessed based on three food groups(vegetables, fruits and beans and other protein-rich vegetables), two ratios (red/white meat and polyunsaturated/saturated fat) and five nutrients (fiber, trans fat, calcium, folate and iron) and it was found that most of them lacked dietary intake improvements, thus showing the need to deliver food education at this stage of life. 23 In the present study, class III obese and normal weight high-risk pregnant women presented a higher intake of total calories and higher percentages of carbohydrates from ultra-processed foods when compared with overweight and class II obese pregnant women, that is, the consumption of ultraprocessed foods may not be related only to the nutritional status of pregnant women.…”