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Maternal diet quality during pregnancy and child cognition and behavior in a US cohort
- Source :
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background Maternal intake of several nutrients during pregnancy is linked to offspring cognition. The relation between maternal dietary patterns and offspring cognition is less established. Objectives We aimed to examine associations of maternal diet quality during pregnancy with child cognition and behavior. Methods Among 1580 mother–child pairs in Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort, we assessed maternal diet during pregnancy using FFQs and evaluated diet quality using versions modified for pregnancy of the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS-P) and Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-P). Child cognitive and behavioral outcomes were assessed using standardized tests and questionnaires at infancy and in early and mid-childhood. We conducted multivariable linear regression analyses. Results Mothers were predominantly white, college-educated, and nonsmokers. After adjustment for child age and sex and maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, maternal high (6–9) compared with low (0–3) MDS-P during pregnancy was associated with higher child Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-II) nonverbal (mean difference for first trimester: 4.54; 95% CI: 1.53, 7.56) and verbal scores (3.78; 95% CI: 1.37, 6.19) and lower Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) Metacognition Index (−1.76; 95% CI: −3.25, −0.27), indicating better intelligence and fewer metacognition problems in mid-childhood. Maternal Q4 compared with Q1 AHEI-P during pregnancy was associated with higher Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities matching scores in early childhood (mean difference for first trimester: 2.79; 95% CI: 0.55, 5.04) and higher KBIT-II verbal scores (2.59; 95% CI: 0.13, 5.04) and lower BRIEF Global Executive Composite scores in mid-childhood (−1.61; 95% CI: −3.20, −0.01), indicating better visual spatial skills, verbal intelligence, and executive function. Conclusions Maternal intake of a better-quality diet during pregnancy was associated with better visual spatial skills in the offspring at early childhood and with better intelligence and executive function in the offspring at mid-childhood.
- Subjects :
- Male
Intelligence
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Child Behavior
Neuropsychological Tests
AcademicSubjects/MED00160
Executive Function
Child Development
Cognition
Pregnancy
Medicine
prenatal nutrition
Early childhood
Prospective Studies
Child
Alternate Healthy Eating Index
Nutrition and Dietetics
maternal diet during pregnancy
birth cohort
Verbal reasoning
Original Research Communications
Child, Preschool
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
early-life nutrition
Cohort
Female
Diet, Healthy
Clinical psychology
cognitive development
Adult
Offspring
Metacognition
Mothers
Diet Surveys
programming
AcademicSubjects/MED00060
Mediterranean diet
Humans
Prenatal nutrition
business.industry
Infant, Newborn
Infant
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
medicine.disease
childhood cognition
United States
early development
Growth, Development, and Pediatrics
Linear Models
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19383207
- Volume :
- 115
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The American journal of clinical nutrition
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....44708830215b4e817a210cea8ec918d7