09 Mar 2012

Diet linked to childhood IQ

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It is believed that some foods, such as those containing omega-3 fatty acids, can support healthy brain function. A recent UK study has gone a step further to try and establish whether children who eat a healthy, balanced diet from a young age may benefit from a higher IQ than those don’t writes Tanya Ryan-Segger

Kids health

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The research, based on a recent longitudinal study and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, measured dietary habits of children at 3,4,7 and 8.5 years of age. Almost 4,000 of these children then had their IQ assessed at 8.5 years of age.

Although most parents know a balanced diet is better for children’s (and adults’ for that matter) wellbeing, the study’s authors - a group of researchers from Bristol University in the UK, focus on the novel concept that childhood nutrition and intelligence may be linked.

Before jumping to conclusions on the subject it’s evident that more research needs to be done but initial findings make interesting reading.
In summary the study found:

• Poor diet (intakes high in sugar, fat and processed foods) early in life may be associated with a small reduction in IQ in later childhood
• On the other hand, a healthy diet (i.e. nutrient rich) may be associated with slight increases in childhood IQ

OK, so it’s not like most parents aren’t aware that good, healthy food = better outcomes for kids. What, in addition, this study attempts to do is shed light on the idea that early dietary patterns could affect intelligence.

And the research’s key finding - that a slight intellectual advantage could be gained by eating well as a child is, along with general health and wellbeing, a possible compelling new reason to add to the list of why kids benefit from a healthy diet.

The study also highlights the critical nature of good eating habits from a young age as the association (positive or negative) found between IQ at eight years old tended to be in-line with the diet at three – despite any later changes to food intake. Researchers hypothesized that this could be due to the brain growing most rapidly in the first few years of life.

Yet, even with the best parental intentions some young children are, and often remain, fussy eaters. Although the study’s findings are noteworthy there are a variety of other factors likely to affect its results - such as educational and social background.

But if now tempted to analyse everything that your child consumes (or omits) for fear of intellectual disadvantage try to keep the idea of healthy eating in perspective.

When talking about eating well most advocates for healthy food habits in kids mean a sensible, balanced diet – think of a healthy food pyramid style of intake. Easier said than done, yes, but with persistence, attainable.

It’s probably no great surprise that the researchers of the UK study also found that the parents of children with superior dietary habits are more likely to eat well themselves, so, if looking to make changes to the diets of little people, mum and dad are usually a good first port of call. Just a little more food for thought…

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