Exploring the relationship between maternal carbohydrate quality and quantity during pregnancy and early childhood neurodevelopment: a prospective cohort study within the BiSC cohort.


Por: Panisello L, Mateu-Fabregat J, Novau-Ferré N, Ayala-Aldana N, Bernardo-Castro S, Ferrer M, Jiménez-Arenas P, Llurba E, Lassale C, Gómez-Roig MD, Vioque J, González-Palacios S, Contreras-Rodríguez O, Foraster M, Gascon M, Sunyer J, Awad C, Júlvez J and Bulló M

Publicada: 1 dic 2025 Ahead of Print: 1 dic 2025
Resumen:
PURPOSE: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is key for offspring neurodevelopment. Given the role of glucose in brain function, assessing carbohydrate quantity and quality, including glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL) and carbohydrate quality index (CQI), may provide insights into early brain development. This study examined the associations between maternal dietary carbohydrate intake and neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood. METHODS: The prospective cohort study included 1080 mother-child pairs from the Barcelona Life Study Cohort. Maternal dietary carbohydrate intake, GI, GL and CQI were assessed during mid-pregnancy using a food frequency questionnaire. Child neurodevelopment was evaluated at 8 and 28 months using the Developmental Profile 3 (DP-3) and at 18 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III). Associations were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models adjusted for relevant maternal and child covariates. RESULTS: Increased maternal carbohydrate intake, GI, and GL were inversely associated with language development (ß (95% CI): - 2.67 (- 5.13, - 0.21), - 2.73 (- 5.21, - 0.26), - 3.51 (- 5.96, - 1.07) respectively) and receptive language (ß (95% CI): - 0.58 (- 1.07, - 0.08), - 0.54 (- 1.04, - 0.04), - 0.70 (- 1.20, - 0.21) respectively) at 18 months, as measured by the BSID-III, although these associations were attenuated after adjustment for maternal and child covariates. Increased GI and lower CQI were associated with lower gross motor scores (ß (95% CI): - 0.49 (- 0.84, - 0.15), 0.39 (0.06, 0.71) respectively) at 18 months (BSID-III), as well as reduced motor development (ß (95% CI): - 3.2 (- 5.50, - 0.76), 2.22 (- 0.1, 4.54) respectively) at 8 and 28 months (DP-3). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal carbohydrate quality during pregnancy may influence early neurodevelopment, particularly motor outcomes. Emphasizing low-GI, low-GL and high-CQI carbohydrate sources during pregnancy could support favorable developmental trajectories in offspring.

Filiaciones:
Panisello L:
 Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University (URV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology-TecnATox, Rovira i Virgili University, 43204, Reus, Spain

Mateu-Fabregat J:
 Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University (URV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology-TecnATox, Rovira i Virgili University, 43204, Reus, Spain

Novau-Ferré N:
 Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University (URV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology-TecnATox, Rovira i Virgili University, 43204, Reus, Spain

Ayala-Aldana N:
 Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈ?pia), IISPV, Reus, Spain

 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Bernardo-Castro S:
 Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈ?pia), IISPV, Reus, Spain

 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

Ferrer M:
 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Jiménez-Arenas P:
 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Llurba E:
 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau-IIB Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

Lassale C:
 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

 CIBER Physiology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Gómez-Roig MD:
 BCNatal. Barcelona Center for Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

 Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

 Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin Network (RICORS), RD21/0012/0003, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

Vioque J:
 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

 Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH), Alicante, Spain

 Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (Isabial), Alicante, Spain

González-Palacios S:
 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

 Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH), Alicante, Spain

 Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (Isabial), Alicante, Spain

Contreras-Rodríguez O:
 Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain

 CIBER Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Foraster M:
 PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), Barcelona, Spain

Gascon M:
 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

 Unitat de Suport a la Recerca de la Catalunya Central, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Manresa, Spain

Sunyer J:
 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Awad C:
 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

Júlvez J:
 Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈ?pia), IISPV, Reus, Spain

 ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Bulló M:
 Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University (URV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Spain

 Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology-TecnATox, Rovira i Virgili University, 43204, Reus, Spain

 CIBER Physiology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
ISSN: 14366207





EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
Editorial
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, TIERGARTENSTRASSE 17, D-69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY, Alemania
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 64 Número: 8
Páginas: 327-327
WOS Id: 001628861900003
ID de PubMed: 41324685
imagen Green Published, hybrid

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