Consumo alimentar e desempenho cognitivo na infância: uma análise da Coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas de 2015

Abstract

The early years of life are crucial for cognitive the development of cognitive abilities, including intelligence. This period is marked by rapid brain development, in which nutrition plays an essential role, providing the energy and nutrients needed. Additionally, childhood is a key stage for establishing food preferences and dietary habits that may persist throughout life and influence long-term health. Given the increasing trend of early exposure to low-quality diets and their potential implications on child development, this study aimed to describe dietary patterns at 2 years of age and investigate their association with cognitive performance at 6-7 years in children from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort in southern Brazil. Dietary intake at 2 years was assessed using a habitual food consumption questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified through principal component analysis. Cognitive performance was measured at 6-7 years using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (4th edition), which provided intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. The analytical sample included 3,483 children with available data. Two dietary patterns were identified, explaining 23.2% of the total variance. Associations were tested using crude and adjusted linear regression models. The unhealthy dietary pattern – characterized by snacks, instant noodles, sweet biscuits, candies and sweets, soft drinks, sausages, and processed meats – was negatively associated with IQ (p <0.001). Exploratory analyses suggest that early-life deficits (weight, height, or head circumference for age), may amplify the negative effects of unhealthy dietary pattern on IQ (interaction p=0.020). Children with high adherence to this pattern and early-life deficits showed a 4.78-point IQ reduction (95% CI: -7.06; -2.49), while those without deficits had a 2.24-point reduction (95% CI: -3.35; -1.13), compared to those with low adherence, even after adjustments. However, no significant associations were found between the healthy dietary pattern – characterized by beans, baby foods, fruits, vegetables, and natural fruit juices – and IQ scores. These findings suggest that an unhealthy diet in early childhood may impair cognitive performance, particularly in children with early-life deficits.