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Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Nut consumption during pregnancy is associated with decreased risk of peer problems in 5-year-old Japanese children
Mai Quynh Nguyen1, Yoshihiro Miyake2,3,4,5, Keiko Tanaka2,3,4,5
1Food Microbiology and Function Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
Objectives:
Nuts are nutrient-dense foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal nut intake during pregnancy and the risk of childhood behavioral problems in 5-year-old Japanese children.
Methods:
Study subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent-reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori-selected nondietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors.
Results:
Compared with mothers who had not eaten nuts during pregnancy, mothers who had eaten nuts had a significantly reduced risk of peer problems in children; the adjusted odds ratio was 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.97). There were no measurable associations between maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy and the risk of childhood emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and low prosocial behavior.
Conclusions:
Maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems in 5-year-old children.
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