Healthy diets linked to higher childhood IQ

Posted by admin

August 24, 2012

Children who consume a healthy diet during childhood may have slightly higher IQ scores than those who are fed on diets of unhealthy diets of ‘junk food’, according to new research.

The study – published in the European Journal of Epidemiology – examined the association between dietary patterns at 6, 15 and 24 months and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores at 8 years of age in a sample of more than 7000 children.

Led by Dr Lisa Smithers from the University of Adelaide, Australia, the research team analysed data from the UK-based in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study, revealing that those fed healthy diets at an early age may have a slightly higher IQ, while those on heavier junk food diets may have a slightly reduced IQ.

“Diet supplies the nutrients needed for the development of brain tissues in the first two years of life, and the aim of this study was to look at what impact diet would have on children’s IQs,” said Smithers.

General

If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.