Nutrient trajectories during infancy and their associations with childhood neurodevelopment

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Article
Citation
Toh, J. Y., Cai, S., Lim, S. X., Pang, W. W., Godfrey, K. M., Shek, L. P., Tan, K. H., Yap, F., Lee, Y. S., Chong, Y.-S., Eriksson, J. G., Broekman, B. F. P., Rifkin-Graboi, A., & Chong, M. F. F. (2023). Nutrient trajectories during infancy and their associations with childhood neurodevelopment. European Journal of Nutrition, 62, 2429-2439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03164-2
Author
Toh, Jia Ying
•
Cai, Shirong
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Lim, Shan Xuan
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Pang, Wei Wei
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Godfrey, Keith M.
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Shek, Lynette Pei-Chi
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Tan, Kok Hian
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Yap, Fabian
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Lee, Yung Seng
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Chong, Yap Seng
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Eriksson, Johan Gunnar
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Broekman, Birit F. P.
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Rifkin-Graboi, Anne 
•
Chong, Mary F. F.
Abstract
Purpose To examine the associations between infants’ dietary nutrient trajectories and subsequent neurodevelopment during childhood in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes study. Methods One-day food records were collected at ages 6, 9 and 12 months, whilst Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III and Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test-2 were conducted at ages 24 and 54 months respectively. Nutrient trajectories were constructed using multi-level mixed modelling and associations with neurodevelopment (24 months: n = 484; 54 months: n = 444) were examined using adjusted multivariable linear regression. Results At age 24 months, higher protein intake (at 6 months) and increasing rate of intake (from 6 to 12 months) were associated with higher fine motor score [β = 0.17 SD (95% CI 0.03, 0.31) and 0.62 SD (0.10, 1.14) respectively]. Higher fat intake was associated with higher receptive language score [0.04 SD (0.003, 0.07)], but increasing rate of intake was associated with lower expressive language [− 0.20 SD (− 0.39, − 0.01)] and fine motor [− 0.29 SD (− 0.48, − 0.10)] scores. Higher carbohydrate intake was associated with lower gross motor score [− 0.07 SD (− 0.14, − 0.005)], but increasing rate of intake was associated with higher receptive language [0.44 SD (0.08, 0.81)] and fine motor [0.56 SD (0.18, 0.93)] scores. Increasing rate of dietary fibre intake was associated with higher fine motor scores [0.63 SD (0.16, 1.10)]. No significant associations were observed with neurodevelopment at 54 months. Conclusion Our findings provide greater understanding of how nutrition over time could have varying effects on child neurodevelopment.
Keywords
Date Issued
2023
Publisher
Springer
Journal
European Journal of Nutrition
DOI
10.1007/s00394-023-03164-2
Grant ID
NMRC/TCR/004-NUS/2008
NMRC/TCR/012-NUHS/2014
(MC_UU_12011/4)
NIHR Senior Investigator NF-SI-0515-10042
17/63/154
IS-BRC-1215-20004
RG/15/17/3174
Funding Agency
Singapore National Research Foundation's Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship Programme
Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
UK Medical Research Council
National Institute for Health Research
NIHR Southampton 1000DaysPlus Global Nutrition Research Group
NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre
British Heart Foundation
European Union