Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and child internalising and externalising problems. The Generation R Study
Open accessAbstract
Background & aims Maternal nutritional factors during pregnancy have been linked to foetal brain development and subsequent offspring behaviour. Less is known about associations between maternal dietary patterns and offspring behaviour.Methods Within a population-based cohort, we assessed maternal diet using a food frequency questionnaire. Three dietary patterns were derived by means of Principal Component Analysis. Child internalising (emotionally reactive, anxious/depressed or withdrawn, having somatic complaints) and externalising problems (inattention, aggression) were assessed with the Child Behaviour Checklist at 1.5, 3 and 6 years in 3104 children. We assessed the association of maternal Mediterranean, Traditionally Dutch and Confectionary dietary pattern during pregnancy with child internalising and externalising problems.Results After adjustment, the Mediterranean diet was negatively associated (ORper SD in Mediterranean score = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.97) and the Traditionally Dutch diet was positively associated with child externalising problems (ORper SD in Traditionally Dutch score = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.21). Neither diet was associated with internalising problems.Conclusions Both low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high adherence to the Traditionally Dutch diet during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of child externalising problems. Further research is needed to unravel the effects of nutrient interplay during and after pregnancy on child behavioural development.
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Maternal malnutrition affects brain development and probably represents a leading factor in the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders in offspring.
“several studies showed that maternal malnutrition affects brain development and probably represents a leading factor in the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders in an offspring [60,61,62].”
From Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health (2022) · cites this paper as [60]
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References 36 · Cited by 134
- Authors
- Steenweg-de Graaff, J., Tiemeier, H., Steegers-Theunissen, R. P. M., Hofman, A., Jaddoe, V. W. V., Verhulst, F. C., & Roza, S. J.
- Affiliations
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Tiemeier, Henning
- Jaddoe, Vincent W.V.
- Verhulst, Frank C.
- Roza, Sabine J.
- Venue
- Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-02
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 115-121
- ISSN
- 0261-5614 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2027493903
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 8.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Erasmus Medisch Centrum
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Keywords
- maternal diet during pregnancy, dietary habits, Mediterranean diet, child behavior, offspring behavior, Generation R Study
- MeSH terms
- Mental Disorders, Child, Child Behavior, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Patient Compliance, Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Nutrition Assessment, Multivariate Analysis, Logistic Models, Principal Component Analysis, Diet, Mediterranean, Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
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