Seafood intake in children at age 7 years and neurodevelopmental outcomes in an observational cohort study (ALSPAC)

Purpose 
Seafood is rich in other essential nutrients such as long-chain fatty acids, selenium and iodine that play an important role in neurodevelopment and cognitive function. The association between seafood intake in childhood and cognitive outcomes has not been well evidenced. Our aim was to investigate the association between seafood intake in children at age 7 years and cognitive and behavioural outcomes at age 8–9 years.

Methods 
Data on seafood intakes were collected at age 7 years in children enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Adjusted logistic regression was use to model seafood intake with the odds of suboptimal behavioural scores (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)) measured at age 7 and 9 years and cognitive scores (IQ) at age 8 years.

Results 
Lower seafood intake at age 7 years (0 vs ≥190 g/week) increased the adjusted odds of suboptimal prosocial behaviour measured by the SDQ at 7 years by 35% (OR 1.35 (95% CI 1.10, 1.81), p=0.042) and at 9 years by 43% (OR 1.43 (95% CI 1.02, 1.99), p=0.036). We found no evidence of any associations with IQ at 8 years.

Conclusion 
In a population in which fish intakes were below national recommendations, our results illustrate the importance of seafood intake in children on behavioural variables, specifically prosocial behaviour. Further research on the association of seafood intake with a wider range of indicators of child neurodevelopment will provide stronger evidence of the role of seafood intake in cognitive development.