At the Child Medical Center, we are committed to children’s health every day. That’s why we like to share insights from groundbreaking research that shows how much of an impact a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy can have – not only on the child’s body, but also on the neurological development of his or her brain.

📚 A recent large-scale study from Denmark, published in Nature Medicine, shows that a so-called “Western diet” during pregnancy – that is, lots of processed meat, sugars, saturated fats, and few fruits and vegetables – is associated with an increased risk of ADHD and autism in children.

📊 What exactly does that mean?

• The probability of an ADHD diagnosis in the child was 66% higher in mothers who followed a Western diet.
• The probability of autism was even 122% higher.
• These associations persisted even after adjusting for heredity, smoking behavior, BMI and other lifestyle factors.

💡 These findings have been confirmed in three additional international mother-child cohorts, totaling more than 60,000 participants.

🧠 When does nutrition make the most difference?

Especially in the first and second trimesters, the brain of the unborn child is especially sensitive to outside influences – including nutrition. It was precisely during this period that the link between unhealthy nutrition and developmental problems was found to be strongest.

🧬 What can we do with this?

The research shows the importance of a nutritious diet in pregnancy – rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grain products, fish, nuts and vegetable fats. By doing so, you give the infant brain the building blocks it needs.

👶 Together we ensure a healthy start – from the very beginning.

📖 Source: “A Western Dietary Pattern during Pregnancy is Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence” – Nature Medicine, 2024. DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.07.24303907