MADRID—New research presented at the 11th European Nutrition Conference provides more evidence that a mother’s consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), during pregnancy directly influences their children’s brain health.
Researchers participating in the NUTRIMENTHE research project to examine the role diet plays in the mental performance of children investigated how the diet of pregnant women, babies and children affects mental development later on. Specifically, they examined whether eating fish during pregnancy is related to later childhood IQ, particularly verbal intelligence, by age 8. They found children born to women who reported the highest fish intake while pregnant, demonstrated better outcomes in tests for verbal intelligence, fine motor skills and pro-social behavior.
