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Maternal fish and other seafood intakes during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment at age 4 years.
- Source :
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Public health nutrition [Public Health Nutr] 2009 Oct; Vol. 12 (10), pp. 1702-10. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Nov 25. - Publication Year :
- 2009
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Abstract
- Objective: To analyse the relationship between maternal intakes of fish and other seafood during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment at age 4 years. Although pregnant women are advised to limit seafood intakes because of possible neurotoxin contamination, several studies suggest that overall maternal seafood intakes are associated with improved child neurodevelopment, perhaps because of higher DHA intakes.<br />Design: The study uses data from a prospective birth cohort study. Maternal seafood intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative FFQ administered shortly after delivery. Multivariate linear regression was used to estimate associations between seafood consumption and scores on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MCSA). Analyses were stratified by breast-feeding duration as breast milk is a source of DHA during the postnatal phase of the brain growth spurt.<br />Setting: Menorca, Spain, 1997-2001.<br />Subjects: Full-term children (n 392) with data on maternal diet in pregnancy, breast-feeding duration and neurodevelopment at age 4 years.<br />Results: Among children breast-fed for <6 months, maternal fish intakes of >2-3 times/week were associated with significantly higher scores on several MCSA subscales compared with intakes < or =1 time/week. There was no association among children breast-fed for longer periods. Maternal intakes of other seafood (shellfish/squid) were, however, inversely associated with scores on several subscales, regardless of breast-feeding duration.<br />Conclusions: The study suggests that moderately high intakes of fish, but not other seafood, during pregnancy may be beneficial for neurodevelopment among children breast-fed for <6 months. Further research in other populations with high seafood intakes and data on additional potential confounders are needed to confirm this finding.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Aptitude Tests
Brain growth & development
Breast Feeding
Child Development drug effects
Child, Preschool
Diet Surveys
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Motor Skills drug effects
Motor Skills physiology
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Spain
Brain drug effects
Child Development physiology
Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Docosahexaenoic Acids administration & dosage
Fishes
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Seafood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1475-2727
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Public health nutrition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19026093
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980008003947