Pinar-Martí Ariadna, Ayala-Aldana Nicolas, Ruiz-Rivera Marina, Lertxundi Nerea, Subiza-Pérez Mikel, González-Safont Llúcia, Vioque Jesús, Riaño-Galán Isolina, Rodríguez-Dehli Cristina, Iglesias-Vázquez Lucía, Arija Victoria, Fernández-Barrés Silvia, Romaguera Dora, Pascual-Rubio Vicenç, Fabregat-Sanjuan Albert, Healy Darren, Basagaña Xavier, Vrijheid Martine, Guxens Mònica, Foraster Maria, Julvez Jordi
Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈpia), Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Reus, Spain; ISGlobal, Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona-Campus MAR, PRBB, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈpia), Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Reus, Spain; ISGlobal, Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona-Campus MAR, PRBB, Barcelona, Spain.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 Jul;122(1):274-284. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.032. Epub 2025 May 5.
Understanding the role of maternal diet in early brain development is critical, as pregnancy represents a period of significant vulnerability and growth for the developing brain.
This study aims to assess the association between maternal nuts, total seafood, and large fatty fish consumption during pregnancy and offspring neuropsychological function ≤15 y, considering the potential mediation of omega-3 fatty acids.
This study was part of The Spanish Childhood and Environment birth cohort, following 1737 mother-child pairs from pregnancy to age 15. Maternal diet was evaluated using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, whereas children's neuropsychological function was measured through standardized computer-based tests. Attention (hit reaction time and its variability, HRT and HRT-SE) was measured with the Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test and the Attention Network Test. Working memory (detectability in 2-back, d2', and 3-back tasks, d3') was evaluated using the N-back task. Fluid intelligence was assessed with Raven's Progressive Matrices and the Test of Primary Mental Abilities. Linear mixed-effects regression models assessed the association of nuts, seafood and large fatty fish with neuropsychological outcomes, whereas generalized structural equation modeling was used for mediation analyses.
Higher maternal nut consumption was significantly linked to improved attention [HRT-SE β = -0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.09, -0.00] and working memory (d2' β = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.09, and d3' β = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11) in offspring. Greater consumption of large fatty fish was associated with better attention (HRT-SE β = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.10, -0.02; and HRT β = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.08, -0.00), and fluid intelligence (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.13). Omega-3 fatty acids mediated 8%-14% of these effects on attention.
Maternal diet at pregnancy and omega-3 intake may support long-term cognitive development in children and adolescents.
了解孕期母亲饮食在早期大脑发育中的作用至关重要,因为孕期是发育中的大脑极易受影响且快速生长的时期。
本研究旨在评估孕期母亲食用坚果、海鲜总量和大型肥鱼与15岁及以下后代神经心理功能之间的关联,并考虑ω-3脂肪酸的潜在中介作用。
本研究是西班牙儿童与环境出生队列研究的一部分,对1737对母婴从孕期追踪至15岁。母亲饮食通过半定量食物频率问卷进行评估,而儿童的神经心理功能则通过标准化的计算机测试来测量。注意力(击中反应时间及其变异性,HRT和HRT-SE)用康纳斯儿童连续操作测试和注意力网络测试进行测量。工作记忆(2-back任务中的可检测性,d2',以及3-back任务中的可检测性,d3')使用N-back任务进行评估。流体智力通过瑞文渐进矩阵测验和基本心理能力测验进行评估。线性混合效应回归模型评估坚果、海鲜和大型肥鱼与神经心理结果之间的关联,而广义结构方程模型用于中介分析
孕期母亲食用坚果量较高与后代注意力改善显著相关[HRT-SEβ=-0.05,95%置信区间(CI):-0.09,-0.00]和工作记忆改善显著相关(d2'β=0.05,95%CI:0.00,0.09;d3'β=0.06,95%CI:0.02,0.11)。食用大型肥鱼较多与注意力改善相关(HRT-SEβ=-0.06,95%CI:-0.10,-0.02;HRTβ=-0.04,95%CI:-0.08,-0.00),以及流体智力改善相关(β=0.08,95%CI:0.02,0.13)。ω-3脂肪酸介导了这些对注意力影响的8%-14%
孕期母亲饮食和ω-3脂肪酸摄入量可能支持儿童和青少年长期认知发展。