Organic food intake in childhood is related to the development of cognitive ability

A study analyzed the relationship between various prenatal and child exposure and neuropsychological development of school-age children and found that organic food intake was associated with better fluid intelligence test scores (fictional reasoning problem-solving ability) and brain working memory (Ability to keep fresh information needed in the short term)

The explanation for this connection may be: "A healthy diet, including an organic diet, is richer in nutrients needed by the brain than a fast food diet, such as fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, which together can enhance children’s cognitive function.

The study also found that fast food intake during childhood, crowded family environments, and smoking in the environment are associated with lower mobile intelligence scores

The study is called "Early life multiple exposures and child cognitive function: A multi-centric birth cohort study in six European countries" and used specific birth cohorts from six European countries (UK, France, Spain, Greece, Lithuania, and Norway).

Groundbreaking research 

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of these exposures on the development and maturation of the human brain, because in childhood, the brain is not fully developed, cannot effectively resist environmental chemicals, and is particularly sensitive to toxicity, even at low levels.

The innovation of this research is that it uses an exposure method, that is, it considers all exposures instead of focusing on only one exposure

This study analyzed cohorts from six European countries.

Significant association 

The study found that the main factors affecting children's fluid intelligence and working memory are organic diet, fast food diet, family overcrowding, indoor air pollution and smoking

In contrast, childhood exposure to tobacco smoke and indoor PM2.

Some surprising findings 

The study also found some unexpected connections, which can be explained by confusion and reverse causality

This study is part of a large European project "Early Life Exposure in Humans" (HELIX).

"One of the strengths of this research is in the early studies of cognitive and behavioral problems.

Tests used to quantify cognitive function:

1. Raven Color Progressive Matrix (Liquid Intelligence)

2. Attention

3. n-back (working memory) 

Cohorts used in the study:

1. Born in Bradford, England (BiB)

2. étude des déterminants pré- et postnatals du développement and de la santé de l'enfant (Garden of Eden), France

3. INMA, Spain

4. Kaunus Cohort (KANC), Lithuania

5. Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), Norway

6. Mother and child queue in Crete (Rhea), Greece

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reference

Early life multiple exposures and child cognitive function: A multi-centric birth cohort study in six European countries