Low fiber intake during pregnancy may delay development in infants' brains

Maternal malnutrition remains a problem for women worldwide, under nutrition during pregnancy is one of the factors linked to an increased risk of diseases in children as they grow older.

Animal studies have shown that a low-fiber diet during pregnancy impairs brain nerve function in offspring. Now, in the first human cohort study on the relation of maternal nutritional imbalance and infants’ brain development, researchers in Japan have investigated if the same effects can be found in humans.

Most pregnant women in Japan consume far less dietary fiber than what is the recommended intake, said authors of the study published in Frontiers in Nutrition. These results provided reinforcing evidence that under nutrition during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of neuro developmental delay in children.

There searchers also found that the median dietary fiber intake in Japan is just over 10 grams a day. Only 8.4% of Japanese pregnant women consumed enough fiber. They also pointed out that the recommended fiber intake for pregnant women varies: While in

• Gfx- In Japan the recommended daily dietary fiber intake is 18 grams each day

• 28 grams in the US and Canada

The researchers also pointed to certain limitations of their study.

Gfx- “Human studies cannot assess the effects of dietary fiber alone. Although this study considered the impact of folic acid intake during pregnancy, the possibility of other nutrients having an impact cannot be completely ruled out,”

“In addition, dietary fiber intake from supplements could not be investigated.”

Reference: Low fiber intake during pregnancy may delay development in infants’ brains; Frontiers in Nutrition, DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1203669.