Did you know that what a mom eats during pregnancy can affect her baby’s brain development? There have been studies in animals showing that low-fiber diets during pregnancy can harm the brains of their offspring. Scientists wanted to see if this was true for humans too.

So, they conducted a large study using data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study to look at the link between a mum’s dietary fiber intake during pregnancy and her child’s neurodevelopmental delay.

The Study

They analyzed information from 76,207 mother-infant pairs. They used a questionnaire to estimate the mums’ dietary fiber intake during mid-pregnancy, and this was adjusted for their energy levels. The dietary fiber intake was then divided into five groups. When the children reached 3 years old, they assessed their development in five different areas using a questionnaire called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.

Results

They found that the babies of mothers who had the lowest intake of dietary fiber during pregnancy had a higher risk of delayed communication, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social skills compared to those who had the highest intake of dietary fiber. They also did an analysis that excluded the effects of not getting enough folic acid during pregnancy, and the trend still remained the same.

Conclusion

This study is the first of its kind to show a possible link between a mother’s low dietary fiber intake during pregnancy and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay in her child. It emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy not just for the mum’s well-being but also for the future brain development of her baby.