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Maternal fat intake during pregnancy and behavioral problems in 5-y-old Japanese children

Yoshihiro Miyake1, Keiko Tanaka1, Hitomi Okubo2

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan; Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Translational Research Center, Ehime University Hospital, Ehime, Japan.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|March 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Maternal intake of certain fats during pregnancy, including monounsaturated and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, was linked to a higher risk of emotional problems in children. This highlights the importance of prenatal nutrition for child behavioral development.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • Prenatal nutrition significantly influences fetal development, potentially impacting long-term child health outcomes.
  • Understanding the relationship between maternal dietary fat intake and child behavioral development is crucial for public health.
  • Previous research has explored various dietary factors, but specific fatty acid impacts on childhood behavior require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal fat consumption during pregnancy and the risk of behavioral problems in Japanese children at age five.
  • To identify specific types of dietary fats that may be related to emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, or peer problems in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 1199 Japanese mother-child pairs.
  • Maternal dietary intake during pregnancy was assessed using a diet history questionnaire.
  • Child behavioral problems were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, with logistic regression analysis employed to determine associations.

Main Results:

  • Higher maternal intake of monounsaturated fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid during pregnancy was independently associated with an increased risk of childhood emotional problems.
  • The adjusted odds ratios for extreme quartiles of these fatty acids ranged from 1.60 to 2.09.
  • No significant associations were found for total fat, saturated fatty acids, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, or cholesterol intake with any behavioral outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid during pregnancy may elevate the risk of developing emotional problems in children.
  • These findings underscore the potential impact of specific maternal dietary fats on child emotional well-being.
Abstract

Keywords:
Behavioral problemsChildFatMaternal intakePrebirth cohort

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