EAT-lancet diet linked to increased infant head circumference: a contrast with plant-based diet indices

The EAT-Lancet diet (ELD) is recognized as a sustainable dietary pattern that supports both human health and environmental well-being. However, the relationship between the ELD and infant growth metrics is still poorly understood. This study explored the association between the ELD, plant-based dietary indices, and various infant growth parameters, including weight, length, head circumference, and ponderal index. We recruited 326 healthy mother-infant pairs for this study. The mothers' dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the ELD was calculated based on the Kesse-Guyot score. The infants' measurements, including weight, length, head circumference, and ponderal index, were taken between 2 and 6 months old. The average age of mothers with the highest adherence to the ELD was 28.90 years (± 6.06), while those with the highest adherence to the plant-based diet index (PDI) averaged 29.31 years (± 5.52). Infants of mothers in the highest ELD adherence group (third tertile) had a 13.8% increase in head circumference compared to those in the lowest group (first tertile) [OR: 1.138, 95% Cl: 1.026, 1.262, p = 0.015]. There was no significant correlation between plant-based diet indices and infant growth metrics. Our findings indicate that ELD adherence was associated with increased infant head circumference. In contrast, plant-based dietary indices did not exhibit a similar relationship. This suggests that ELD may offer distinct advantages in promoting infant growth, possibly due to the inclusion of small amounts of animal-based products that enhance the safety of the maternal diet compared to strictly plant-based dietary patterns. Future research should explore these relationships using various indicators for measuring infant growth.