About this srcd poster session

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Panel information
Panel 6. Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

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Background: Poor nutrition and a lack of exercise in pregnancy have been linked to poorer offspring executive function outcomes in observational studies. Therefore, while interventions designed to improve prenatal nutrition and exercise behaviors may have the potential to optimize brain development in offspring, evidence from existing randomized control trails is mixed. However, no existing interventions have aimed to address both prenatal exercise behaviors as well as intervene on diet via the provision of whole foods. Furthermore, no studies have examined offspring executive function outcomes using multimethod assessments across levels of analysis. We investigated the impact of a comprehensive nutrition+exercise intervention during pregnancy on multiple measures of executive function capacity in offspring at 38 months of age.

Methods: Pregnant persons (inclusion: >18 years, singleton pregnancy, no evidence of psychopathology) recruited between 12-17 weeks gestation were randomized to receive the intervention [high protein individualized diet plan that included the provision of cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, low-fat milk, biweekly nutritional counselling, a controlled walking program (per the PARmed-X Pregnancy Guidelines) in addition to usual pregnancy care (UPC) in Canada (which includes free regular prenatal visits with family physicians, routine screenings and tests (e.g., blood pressure, ultrasounds, glucose tolerance), advice on nutrition and lifestyle, and discussions about birth plans). Pregnancy persons randomized to the control group received UPC alone. Executive function in offspring (mage=38.1 (SD=5.4), 52% female, intervention: n=20, control: n=19) was assessed using the inhibitory self-control, flexibility, emergent metacognition, and global executive composite scales on the Behavior Ranting Inventory of Executive Function-Pediatric (BRIEF-P), a laboratory observational assessment of child impulsivity, and resting-state high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV).

Results: Children prenatally exposed to the intervention group exhibited better executive function as indexed by parent reports on inhibitory self control (ƞ²p=0.15, p=0.02), flexibility (ƞ²p=0.11, p=0.04) but not emergent metacognition or the global executive composite. Children in the intervention group also exhibited better performance on the impulsivity task (ƞ²p=0.15, p=0.04) and had higher resting state HF-HRV (ƞ²p=0.25, p=0.03).

Conclusion: This evidence suggests that comprehensive prenatal diet-and-exercise interventions may optimize child executive function. This sample was mainly married, educated, and mentally healthy, and all had access to universal healthcare, therefore examining the impact of these interventions in families that are more socioeconomically disadvantaged is critical. Indeed, in previous work, we showed that diet quality in pregnancy may be particularly important for executive function in offspring exposed to less stimulating home environments (Mortaji, 2021). Furthermore, the provision of foods may be particularly important to address barriers to healthy eating in low-income families. Given the critical importance of executive function development in children, future studies using larger more diverse samples must be conducted to fully reveal the potential of these interventions.

Author information

Author	Role
John Krzeczkowski, Brock University	Presenting author
Neda, Mortaji	Non-presenting author
Stephanie Atkinson, McMaster University	Non-presenting author
Louis A. Schmidt, McMaster University	Non-presenting author
Ryan J. Van Lieshout, McMaster University	Non-presenting author

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