If you eat nuts during pregnancy, you are actually helping your child

Have you ever wondered how your eating habits during pregnancy can influence your child's friendships as he/she grows?

According to a recent study, a pregnant woman can consume nuts to have a positive impact on her child's social interactions later on.

The study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition on March 7. The research revealed interesting findings regarding the link between nut consumption by a mother during pregnancy and childhood peer problems.

As many as 1,199 Japanese mother-child pairs were studied. The research focused on children aged between 59 and 71 months.

The study assessed mothers' eating habits with the help of a diet history questionnaire. It evaluated various behavioural aspects in children and with the help of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Dr Mai Quynh Nguyen from the Food Microbiology and Function Research Laboratories, along with Dr Yoshihiro Miyake from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, led the research.

Researchers observed that children whose mothers had included nuts into their diet during pregnancy exhibited a remarkable 36% lower risk of experiencing peer problems at the age of 5, compared to those whose mothers had not consumed nuts.

The study did not find a significant link between maternal nut intake and other behavioural issues such as emotional conduct, hyperactivity, or low prosocial behaviour problems.

Despite the encouraging findings, the study acknowledges certain limitations, including its reliance on parent-reported data for behavioural assessments, which may involve biases.

Encouraged by their findings, the researchers advocate for further exploration into the potential advantages of nut consumption during pregnancy. They highlight the importance of epidemiological studies and investigations exploring the underlying mechanisms behind the observed correlation.