Macronutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Child Cognitive and Behavioural Outcomes

Rachael M Taylor; Michelle L Blumfield; Lee M Ashton; Alexis J Hure; Roger Smith; Nick Buckley; Karen Drysdale; Clare E Collins

doi:10.3390/children8050425

Macronutrient Intake in Pregnancy and Child Cognitive and Behavioural Outcomes

Children (Basel). 2021 May 20;8(5):425. doi: 10.3390/children8050425.

Authors

Rachael M Taylor^{1

2}, Michelle L Blumfield³, Lee M Ashton^{1

2}, Alexis J Hure^{4

5

6}, Roger Smith^{5

6

7}, Nick Buckley⁸, Karen Drysdale⁹, Clare E Collins^{1

2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
² Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
³ Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
⁴ Priority Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁶ Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
⁷ Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁸ School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
⁹ Faculty of Science, School Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

Abstract

Prenatal nutrient exposures can impact on brain development and disease susceptibility across the lifespan. It is well established that maternal macronutrient intake during pregnancy influences foetal and infant development. Therefore, we hypothesise that macronutrient intakes during pregnancy are correlated with cognitive development during early childhood. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal macronutrient intake during pregnancy and child cognitive and behavioural outcomes at age 4 years. We analysed prospective data from a cohort of 64 Australian mother-child dyads. Maternal macronutrient intake was assessed using a validated 74-item food frequency questionnaire at 2 timepoints during pregnancy. Child cognition and behaviour were measured at age 4 years using the validated Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, 3rd version (WPPSI-III) and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBC). Linear regression models were used to quantify statistical relationships and were adjusted for maternal age, education, pre-pregnancy BMI, breastfeeding duration and birthweight. Child Performance IQ was inversely associated with maternal starch intake (b = -11.02, p = 0.03). However, no other associations were found. Further research is needed to explore the association between different types of starch consumed during pregnancy and child cognitive development.

Keywords: behaviour; cognition; development; macronutrients; nutrition; pregnancy.