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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

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Maternal dietary phylloquinone intake (vitamin K1) and early childhood neurodevelopment

Javier Mateu-Fabregat1,2,3, Laura Panisello1,2,3, Nil Novau-Ferré1,2,3

  • 1Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Reus, Spain.

Pediatric Research
|October 21, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Higher maternal intake of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) during pregnancy is linked to better infant neurodevelopment. This highlights the importance of vitamin K1 for optimal brain development in children.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Prenatal Health

Background:

  • Maternal nutrition significantly impacts fetal development, with phylloquinone (vitamin K1) playing a role in brain development.
  • Previous research has not specifically investigated the association between maternal phylloquinone intake and offspring neurodevelopment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between maternal phylloquinone intake during pregnancy and early childhood neurodevelopment.
  • To explore the influence of vitamin K1 on cognitive, physical, and motor development in infants.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 1080 pregnant women and their offspring (Barcelona Life Study Cohort).
  • Maternal phylloquinone intake assessed via a validated food frequency questionnaire.
  • Neurodevelopment evaluated using the Developmental Profile 3 (DP-3) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III).

Main Results:

  • Increased maternal phylloquinone intake correlated with higher global developmental index scores (DP-3).
  • Improved cognitive and physical development scores were observed with higher phylloquinone intake.
  • Offspring of mothers with the highest phylloquinone intake showed significantly better motor development scores (BSID-III).

Conclusions:

  • Higher maternal dietary phylloquinone intake during pregnancy is associated with enhanced neurodevelopment in offspring.
  • These findings underscore the necessity for specific vitamin K1 recommendations during pregnancy.
  • Optimizing prenatal nutrition, including vitamin K1, is crucial for supporting optimal infant brain development.
Abstract

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