Hirai Hiroko, Tanaka Tomomi, Matsumura Kenta, Tsuchida Akiko, Adachi Yuichi, Imai Chihaya, Inadera Hidekuni
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 4;19(12):e0308703. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308703. eCollection 2024.
Multiple observational studies have demonstrated the health benefits of yogurt, which are considered due to yogurt's positive effects on the gut microbiota. It is also known that the intestinal microbiota is associated with cognitive and emotional functions. Although the intake of probiotics has been reported to improve neurodevelopmental symptoms in children, no large-scale studies have examined the association of yogurt consumption in early childhood with later neurodevelopmental status. In this study, we examined the association between frequency of such consumption at 1 year of age and the children's subsequent neurodevelopmental status.
We studied children's dietary consumption of yogurt at age 1 year and their neurodevelopment at age 3 years from data gathered from70,276 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. We collected data from pregnant women whose consent was obtained after the study was explained to them at participating facilities in the target area. Frequency of yogurt consumption was categorized into 0, 1-2, 3-4, and ≥ 5 times/week based on a questionnaire about the child's diet completed by the mother. Developmental delay was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3™) in five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. Using the results of the group that did not consume yogurt as a reference, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the neurodevelopment of children according to frequency of yogurt consumption. For the covariates, items related to the socio-economic background and children's neurodevelopment were selected with reference to previous studies.
Consumption of yogurt 1-4 times/week was associated with a reduced risk of developmental delay in all ASQ-3 categories(adjusted odds ratios, 0.71-0.87). However, the risk of developmental delay was not necessarily reduced with yogurt consumption ≥5 times/week (adjusted odds ratios, 0.84-0.96).
Yogurt consumption habits at 1 year of age were associated with a lower risk of developmental delay at 3 years of age. However, the association was less apparent when yogurt was consumed more frequently. Possible mechanisms by which yogurt intake affects neurodevelopment include neurotransmitters produced by intestinal bacteria as well as the suppression of intestinal inflammation through improvements in the intestinal environment. Regular intake of yogurt in early childhood may have a positive association with neurodevelopment, but it is hoped that clearer links will be found in the future through intervention studies.
多项观察性研究已证明酸奶对健康有益，这被认为是由于酸奶对肠道微生物群有积极影响。此外，已知肠道微生物群与认知和情绪功能有关。虽然有报道称摄入益生菌可改善儿童的神经发育症状，但尚无大规模研究考察幼儿期食用酸奶与后期神经发育状况之间的关联。在本研究中，我们考察了1岁时此类食用频率与儿童随后神经发育状况之间的关联。
我们从参与日本环境与儿童研究的70276对母婴的数据中，研究了儿童1岁时酸奶的饮食消费情况及其3岁时的神经发育情况。我们从目标地区参与机构向其解释研究情况后获得同意的孕妇那里收集数据。根据母亲填写的关于孩子饮食的问卷，酸奶食用频率分为0、1 - 2、3 - 4和≥5次/周。使用《年龄与发育阶段问卷》第三版（ASQ - 3™）在五个领域评估发育迟缓：沟通、大运动、精细运动、问题解决和个人社交。以不食用酸奶的组的结果为参照，进行多因素逻辑回归分析，以根据酸奶食用频率比较儿童的神经发育情况。对于协变量，参考先前研究选择了与社会经济背景和儿童神经发育相关的项目。
每周食用1 - 4次酸奶与所有ASQ - 3类别中发育迟缓风险降低相关（调整后的优势比为0.71 - 0.87）。然而，每周食用酸奶≥5次时，发育迟缓风险不一定降低（调整后的优势比为0.84 - 0.96）。
1岁时的酸奶食用习惯与3岁时发育迟缓风险较低相关。然而，当酸奶食用频率更高时，这种关联不太明显。酸奶摄入影响神经发育的可能机制包括肠道细菌产生的神经递质以及通过改善肠道环境抑制肠道炎症。幼儿期经常食用酸奶可能与神经发育有正相关，但希望未来通过干预研究能找到更明确的联系。
