Pregnant women eating a Western diet are increasing their child’s risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders in the future, new research has claimed.
A recent study in Denmark has found that children are at higher risk of developing ADHD or autism if their mother ate a diet high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients while they were pregnant with them.
Prior research has revealed that foetal development is affected by alcohol, smoking and unhealthy diets.
- New study uncovers how milk and cheese differently impact gut health
- Plant-rich, low saturated fat diet may reduce psoriasis severity
- Joe Wicks clarifies comments linking ADHD with a poor diet
However, this study has highlighted how maternal diet during pregnancy can contribute to the development of ADHD and autism in children.
First author Dr David Horner said: “The greater a woman’s adherence to a Western diet in pregnancy – high in fat, sugar and refined products while low in fish, vegetables, and fruit – the greater the risk appears to be for her child developing ADHD or autism.”
During the study, the team of researchers looked at the blood samples and dietary patterns of 60,000 mother-child pairs in Denmark and the US.
They found that following parts of a Western diet during pregnancy increased the foetal’s future risk of ADHD development by 66% and autism development by 122%.
Corresponding author Professor Morten Arendt Rasmussen said: “When comparing across cohorts, we observed the strongest associations in the first and second trimesters, suggesting that brain development during this period is particularly sensitive to maternal nutritional influences.”
The researchers detected a total of 43 specific metabolites in maternal blood that were associated with a Western diet.
Dr Horner explained: “We found that 15 of these 43 metabolites were particularly linked to the increased risk of ADHD.
“Many of these metabolites are derived from dietary intake and play key roles in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress – factors believed to be critical in early neurodevelopment.”
He added: “This study raises important questions about whether current dietary guidelines for pregnant women are sufficient.
“We know that nutritional demands increase during pregnancy, and our study highlights just how crucial dietary composition is for foetal development.”
He continued: “While the Nordic diet is often considered healthy, our data show that many pregnant women follow dietary patterns that could be optimised to better support their child’s development.
“This study raises the question of whether existing dietary recommendations are sufficiently followed during pregnancy – and whether they have the desired impact on child health.”
- Children of women with gestational diabetes and obesity more like to develop ADHD
- New link between gut bacteria in children and autism discovered
- Cardiometabolic disorders in children linked to autism
He concluded: “Our analysis not only confirms a strong link between diet and ADHD risk but also identifies specific nutrients and foods that could serve as the foundation for improved dietary guidelines and preventative strategies.
“By understanding how maternal diet influences foetal development, we can better identify the key nutrients and dietary adjustments needed to reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.
“This opens new possibilities for refining dietary recommendations and promoting healthier outcomes for future generations.”
This work is published in the journal Nature Metabolism.
