Autism Study Finds Link With Pregnancy Diet

A mother’s diet during pregnancy could influence her child’s chances of developing autism, according to a new study.

Autism spectrum disorder is a diverse group of conditions characterized by some degree of difficulty with social interaction and communication, and affects approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are many possible causes of autism spectrum disorder, including both environmental and genetic factors, and previous research has suggested a link between prenatal diet and the onset of autism.

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Studies have shown that the use of multivitamins and folic acid supplements during pregnancy, adequate vitamin D, and high fish intake are all associated with a reduced likelihood of childhood autism diagnosis, but considering these factors in isolation ignores the synergistic and antagonistic effects that nutrients may have when consumed as part of a realistic pregnancy diet.

Until now, studies of these overall associations have been based on small samples and have produced inconsistent results. Now, for the first time, researchers from the University of Glasgow in the UK conducted a large-scale study of more than 95,000 mothers and their children to determine whether there is a statistically significant association between the quality of a mother’s diet and her baby’s chance of developing autism.

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Data were collected from two large prospective cohort studies, the Norwegian Mothers, Fathers, and Children Cohort Study and the Avon Parent-Child Longitudinal Study. Data were collected from 2002 to 2008 and 1990 to 1992, respectively, and children were followed until they were over 8 years of age.

Food quality The assessment was based on global dietary guidelines, which include high intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and whole grains and low intake of red and processed meat, soft drinks and foods high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. Participants were classified as having high, moderate or low adherence to healthy eating patterns.

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, such as the mother’s BMI, education level, and supplement use, the study found that adhering to healthy eating patterns during pregnancy was associated with a 22 percent lower chance of a child being diagnosed with autism. Adherence was also associated with a 24 percent lower chance of a child developing a social communication disorder.

The association was particularly strong among mothers of girls.

It’s not entirely clear why this association exists, but researchers suggest that prenatal diet may affect DNA expression and regulate immune processes. Autism has also been linked to disruptions in the microbiome, which may be influenced by dietary patterns.

However, the researchers emphasized that these results are purely observational: “It is unclear at this time whether the observed associations are causal,” they wrote.

It is also possible that there are still confounding factors that were not taken into account in the analysis, such as genetics, parental caregiving, and childhood dietary habits.

Even if a causal relationship is found, a mother’s diet would not be the only factor influencing a child’s chances of developing autism; it is estimated that around 80% of autism cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations.

In other words, a child can be diagnosed with autism even if its mother has a perfectly balanced, healthy diet.

“Further studies should substantiate our findings, especially given the inconsistencies in the literature to date,” the researchers wrote.

The full study can be read in the journal. JAMA Network Open.

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