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Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and child internalising and externalising problems. The Generation R Study
While there are several maternal nutritional factors during pregnancy that are linked with fetal brain development and the offspring’s behavior, Graaff et al. (2014) point out that there is little data on the relationship between maternal dietary patterns and offspring behaviour. The study used the Child Behaviour Checklist at 1.5, 3 and 6 years to measure the children’s internalizing (emotionally reactive, anxious/depressed or withdrawn, having somatic complaints) and externalizing problems (inattention, aggression). Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet by the expecting mother was associated with fewer child externalizing problems, while greater adherence to the Traditionally Dutch diet was found to be linked with increased inattention and aggression. To conclude, pregnant women who don’t abide by the Mediterranean diet or are more adherent to the Traditionally Dutch diet are more likely to birth a child with externalizing issues. [NPID: maternal diet, child development, postpartum depression, pregnancy, obesity, brain development, fetal brain development, dietary patterns, child behavior, emotionally reactive, anxiety, depression, withdrawn, somatic complaints, aggression, externalizing problems, aggression, Med diet, Mediterranean diet]
Year: 2014
