Healthy pregnancy diet may reduce chance of autism in children
Mothers who eat a healthy diet in pregnancy are less likely to have children who are autistic, a new study suggests.
The University of Glasgow looked at the records of more than 95,000 mothers and their babies in Britain and Norway, following up youngsters until their eighth birthday.
They found that mothers who ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole grains while cutting back on red and processed meats, soft drinks and carbs, had 22 per cent lower likelihood of their children being diagnosed with autism during that period.
Children were also more likely to have social communication problems if their mothers did not adhere to a healthy diet, the research found.
Although the study is only observational, researchers said there may be reasons why eating a healthy diet could stave off autism.
1 in 100 Britons on autism spectrum
Dr Catherine Friel, of the university’s school of health and wellbeing, said: “Diet is required to provide essential nutrients to support foetal development, including brain formation.
“Yet, the human diet is complex and contains thousands of bioactive components. Some may be harmful and others beneficial.
“It is potentially the collective effect of nutrients on specific pathways as well as their global effect that influences the development of autism.”
According to the National Autistic Society, more than one in 100 people in Britain are on the autism spectrum – about 700,000 in total.
The condition, which can range from severe behavioural problems to difficulties in communicating and reading situations, is thought to be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.
Previous studies have shown mothers who take multivitamins, folic acid and have adequate vitamin D levels are also less likely to have children who are autistic, suggesting that lack of nutrition plays an important role in the development of the condition.
Maternal health thought to be a factor
The maternal health of the mother is also thought to play a factor, with obesity, diabetes immune system disorders, preeclampsia, and bacterial and viral infections all raising the risk.
Extreme prematurity, low birth weight, or complications that lead to oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain are also thought to be a risk factor.
Other factors which may raise the risk include an older mother, and exposure to air pollution, pesticides and heavy metals.
However, the new research is the first major study to show a link between a mother’s diet and diagnosis of autism.
Researchers believe a nutritious diet may boost the immune system, or protect against mutations and outside toxins, as well as boosting the mother’s microbiome, all of which could protect the baby while it is developing.
The team in Glasgow said the link to diet remained even when accounting for other factors such as the education of the mother and father, and household income.
Dr Friel added: “The causes of autism are currently attributed to a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but the specific mechanisms which may cause autism are unknown.
“Several fields of research have contributed interesting findings, yet these insights remain fragmented, and we have yet to establish a concrete understanding of whether and how these potential mechanisms come together to cause autism.”
However some experts remained unconvinced by the research.
Commenting on the study, Dr Rosa Hoekstra, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, at King’s College London, said: “A healthy diet is associated with many favourable health and wellbeing outcomes, but this paper does not provide evidence that it is an important factor associated with the likelihood of having an autistic child.”
The research was published in the journal JAMA Network Open.