A recent study conducted by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine has uncovered a potential link between regular fish consumption during infancy and a reduced risk of neurodevelopmental delays in toddlers.
Intriguingly, the study also found that the positive impact of fish consumption on neurodevelopment is influenced by a child’s microbiome—the community of microorganisms living in their body.
The research, published in the journal Microorganisms, focused on 142 children from birth to 18 months of age and aimed to understand the association between fish consumption and neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers.
The study indicated that consuming fish at least once a week was associated with a lower risk of neurodevelopmental delays.
Lead author Terrah Keck-Kester explained that while some neurodevelopmental conditions have genetic links, emerging evidence suggests that environmental factors and social determinants of health can interact with genetics to influence neurodevelopment.
The findings from this study suggest that diet, particularly fish consumption, may be one of the factors affecting neurodevelopmental outcomes.
The research team assessed the nutrition of the infants at 6 and 12 months using a standardized questionnaire developed by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They also collected saliva samples from the infants at 6 months and analyzed the activity levels of various bacteria within these samples.
Steven Hicks, the corresponding author, explained that saliva was chosen as it is easily accessible during well-child visits, is close to the developing brain, and represents one of the first sites of microbial contact for infants as they explore their physical world.
To determine the presence or absence of neurodevelopmental delays, the researchers used responses from a Survey of Wellbeing in Young Children, a screening instrument recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, when the children reached 18 months of age.
The study revealed that neurodevelopmental delays were associated with the absence of fish consumption at 12 months of age. Furthermore, these delays were linked to increased activity of two salivary microbes—Candidatus gracilibacteria and Chlorobi.
Keck-Kester noted that the study took into account various factors that could potentially affect the results, such as variables related to a person’s ability to include more fish in their diet.
The research also considered social determinants of health, including maternal stress, family income, access to healthcare, as well as demographic factors like race, ethnicity, and home age.
Interestingly, the study found that Hispanic children were more likely to face neurodevelopmental challenges.
Ultimately, the study’s findings suggest that beyond social and environmental factors, regular fish consumption by infants, particularly at least once a week, is associated with a reduced likelihood of neurodevelopmental delays at 18 months of age.
Additionally, the presence of microbial diversity in the child’s body appears to enhance this protective effect, potentially by aiding in the metabolism and utilization of essential nutrients, such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, commonly found in fish.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and Coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Microorganisms.
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