Maternal dietary fiber intake during pregnancy and child development: the Japan Environment and Children's Study

Background Animal studies have shown that maternal low-fiber diets during pregnancy may impair brain development and function in offspring, but this has not been validated by epidemiological studies. The aim of study was to investigate the link between dietary fiber intake neurodevelopmental delay offspring using a large birth cohort. Methods A total 76,207 mother-infant pairs were analyzed data from Japan Environment Children's Study, nationwide prospective cohort study. Maternal estimated food frequency questionnaire mid-pregnancy. adjusted for energy classified into quintiles. Developmental assessed five domains Japanese version Ages Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition at age 3 years. logistic regression analysis performed estimate odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) developmental Results lowest group had higher risk delayed communication [adjusted OR (aOR), 1.51; CI, 1.32–1.74], fine motor (aOR, 1.45; 1.32–1.61), problem-solving 1.46; personal-social skills 1.30; 1.12–1.50) than did highest group. An excluded effects insufficient folic acid also showed similar trend. Conclusion This deficiency might influence an increased offspring.