Maternal Mediterranean Diet and Mindfulness may Enhance Child Neurodevelopment

A recent study revealed that maternal interventions involving a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) during pregnancy can lead to improved neurodevelopment in children at the age of 2 years. The findings published in the Journal of American Medical Association sheds light on the impact of maternal nutrition and stress levels on fetal and childhood neurodevelopment.

The trial, which took place at a prominent university hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from February 2017 to March 2020, involved 1221 singleton pregnancies with a high risk of delivering small-for-gestational-age newborns. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: a Mediterranean diet intervention, an MBSR program, or usual care. The study's findings were analyzed between July and November 2022.

Pregnant individuals in the Mediterranean diet group received regular individual and group educational sessions along with free supplies of extra virgin olive oil and walnuts. Those in the stress reduction group underwent an 8-week MBSR program specifically designed for pregnancy. Meanwhile, the usual care group followed standard pregnancy care protocols.

At the age of 24 months, children's neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley-III). The results revealed significant differences among the groups.

Children whose mothers were in the Mediterranean diet group exhibited higher cognitive domain scores and improved social-emotional domain scores compared to those in the usual care group. Similarly, children from the stress reduction group demonstrated enhanced social-emotional domain scores compared to the usual care group.

The study's implications are substantial. It not only emphasizes the critical connection between maternal lifestyle and child neurodevelopment but also offers practical strategies for expectant mothers to support their child's cognitive and emotional growth. These findings highlight the long-term effects of maternal nutrition and stress management on the health and well-being of the next generation.

Source: 

Crovetto, F., Nakaki, A., Arranz, A., Borras, R., Vellvé, K., Paules, C., Boutet, M. L., Castro-Barquero, S., Freitas, T., Camacho, A., Pasqual, M., Izquierdo Renau, M., Pozo, Ó. J., Gomez-Gomez, A., … Gratacós, E. (2023). Effect of a Mediterranean Diet or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction During Pregnancy on Child Neurodevelopment. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 6, Issue 8, p. e2330255). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.30255