Early Childhood Diet Linked to Lower Teen Intelligence, Study Finds

A child's diet during their earliest years may significantly influence their cognitive functions and intelligence well into adolescence, according to a large-scale review of 73 studies. Researchers at Swansea University in the UK published their findings in the journal 'Advances in Nutrition,' indicating a strong correlation between unhealthy eating habits in early childhood and diminished cognitive abilities later in life.

The study analyzed 48 controlled trials and 25 prospective studies, focusing on children and adolescents aged 8 to 19. By employing a life-course approach, the researchers examined how nutrition in infancy and early childhood impacts cognitive performance and academic achievement years later. This perspective is based on the understanding that later developmental outcomes stem from earlier stages of growth.

The review highlighted the long-term effects of various nutrients and dietary components, including iron, iodine, choline, vitamin D, polyphenols, fatty acids, and whole grains. The findings suggest that a poorer diet in the crucial early years lays the foundation for cognitive health, leading to lower intelligence in adolescence, even when other contributing factors are considered.

"The foundations of cognitive health appear to be laid very early on," stated Professor Hayley Young, the study's lead author. "A poorer diet in the early years was associated with lower intelligence many years later, in adolescence, even after accounting for many other factors." However, the researchers emphasize that while early nutrition is critical, more research is needed to fully understand the role of diet during adolescence itself, as evidence for interventions during this period is less conclusive.

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The foundations of cognitive health appear to be laid very early on. A poorer diet in the early years was associated with lower intelligence many years later, in adolescence, even after accounting for many other factors.