A diet high in sugar during pregnancy is associated with more behavioral problems in childhood.

Overconsuming foods such as white bread, sugary soft drinks, processed pastries, or refined rice during the first trimester of pregnancy could have long-term consequences for the baby . A study by the Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (Nutrisam) at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona warns that a diet with a high glycemic load at this crucial stage of fetal development is associated with an increased risk of alterations in child neurological development , which may translate into an increase in behavioral problems at age 4.

The study found that "children of mothers whose diets were higher in glycemic load during pregnancy were 2.4 times more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and withdrawal." Aggressive behavior and attention problems were 3.5 times more common in children of mothers with a higher glycemic load.

One possible explanation for this relationship is based on how a high-glycemic-load diet affects maternal metabolism . This type of diet raises the mother's glucose levels, and that glucose, when it crosses the placenta, also increases levels in the fetus. As a result, metabolic alterations occur, including increased oxidative stress and inflammation . These processes can interfere with the proper development of the baby's nervous system and brain development.

Greater impact on girls

The study also found that, in girls , there is a stronger association between a high glycemic load in their diet during pregnancy and the development of behavioral problems. This relationship could be explained by the modulation of blood glucose levels, changes to which girls are more vulnerable .

To develop this study, a test was used containing 99 statements about the child's behavior, which the family must categorize as false, sometimes true, and completely true, the URV reported in a statement on Wednesday.