Processed foods and diet quality in pregnancy may affect child neurodevelopment disorders: a narrative review

ABSTRACT

Objective

To review the evidence on the association between maternal exposure to ultra-processed food (UPF) categories, UPF diet items, and overall diet quality, as assessed by recognized dietary indices, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring.

Methods

PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Ovid, and Scholar databases were searched for original articles on female gestational exposure to UPF categories, individual elements of the UPF diet, or indices of diet quality, in relation to outcomes regarding their offspring's neurocognitive development, according to neuropsychometric and behavioral scales, anthropometric/psychomotor indices, and symptoms/diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).

Results

Fourteen articles were selected and underwent the quantitative analysis. Six of these examined diet quality, and eight exposure to UPF categories or specific UPF foods. The maternal population was adult (18+). Child cognitive development was negatively impacted by a diet featuring many processed foods, saturated fats, and sugars. Conversely, a Med-diet led to better neurodevelopment, particularly verbal intelligence and executive functions, in middle childhood.

Discussion

A maternal diet with many UPFs, saturated fats, and total sugars (especially those added or hidden in packaged carbonated beverages) can adversely affect a child's cognitive development. Knowledge needs to be further extended and managed from a prevention perspective in light of the well-known negative effects of UPFs on human health in all age groups.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Ultra-processed foods
• diet quality
• pregnancy
• maternal diet
• child neurodevelopment
• neurodevelopmental disorders
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Intellectual disability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author Roberta Zupo, upon request.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roberta Zupo

Roberta Zupo is a senior biologist with expertise in human nutrition, currently a researcher at the Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine at the Aldo Moro University of Bari.

Fabio Castellana

Fabio Castellana is a senior biostatistician with major expertise in health data management and analysis.

Giovanni Boero

Giovanni Boero is a neurologist and researcher at ASL Taranto.

Emilia Matera

Emilia Matera is a psychiatrist at the University Aldo Moro of Bari, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), and holds a Ph.D. in Child and Adolescent NeuropsychiatryGiuseppe Colacicco is a MD specializing in Child NeuropsychiatryPrisco Piscitelli is a Medical Epidemiologist, National Vice President of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine.

Maria Lisa Clodoveo

Maria Lisa Clodoveo is a Full Professor in Food Science and Technology at the University of Bari Aldo Moro.

Mariangela Rondanelli

Mariangela Rondanelli is an Associate Professor in Applied Dietary Sciences and Techniques at University of Pavia.

Francesco Panza

Francesco Panza is MD, Ph.D., currently a Neuroscientist and Geroscientist at the University of Bari Aldo Moro.

Madia Lozupone

Madia Lozupone is MD, Ph.D., currently a Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist at the University of Bari Aldo Moro.

Rodolfo Sardone

Rodolfo Sardone is Ph.D., MPH, AuD, currently Environmental Epidemiologist at ASL Taranto.