Summary: Children who regularly eat seafood at age 7 exhibit more positive social behaviors—such as sharing, helping, and interacting kindly—by ages 7 and 9, compared to those who rarely consume seafood. This finding, from a large study tracking nearly 6,000 children, underscores seafood’s role in supporting behavioral and social development during childhood.
Researchers highlight that seafood provides key nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, and selenium, crucial for brain and behavioral health. Although fears about mercury exposure have caused some parents to limit fish intake, experts stress the benefits of consuming two portions of seafood weekly outweigh potential risks.
Key Facts:
- Prosocial Boost: Children with higher seafood consumption demonstrated significantly more prosocial behavior.
- Nutritional Benefits: Fish provides essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, and selenium, crucial for brain development.
- Low Intake: Most children in the study consumed less seafood than the recommended two portions per week.
Source: University of Bristol
Children who consumed the least amounts of seafood at 7-years-old were likely to be less ‘prosocial’ at ages 7 and 9 years than those who regularly consumed seafood, according to a new study. ‘Prosocial’ behaviour includes friendly interactions, altruism, and sharing.
The new research from the University of Bristol reveals an association between fish intake and the behavioural development of children. Seafood is a source of many crucial nutrients for children, including omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and iodine and a marker of a healthy lifestyle more generally.
The recommendation is that children should consume at least two portions of fish per week, with one of these being an oily fish such as salmon or mackerel.
Researchers used questionnaire data from 5,969 of the participants in the Children of the 90s study, which has just received £5.2 million to continue running the pioneering longitudinal research. The data were collected over a period of 2 years and were adjusted for social and demographic factors.
Most studies examining the link between seafood and cognition have focused on consumption of fish in pregnancy and the impact on the baby.
Previous studies have called for more research into fish intake in children themselves, as the overall impact of fish consumption on child brain development is unclear.
Nearly all children in the study were not consuming enough seafood to reach the NHS’s recommendations. This may be because experts have previously warned parents that overconsumption of fish could increased the risk of exposure to pollutants such as mercury.
Prosocial behaviour starts to develop when children are between 1 and 2 years old and generally grows in frequency and complexity as children grow. Encouraging prosocial behaviour is vital to a well functioning society, highlighting the importance of early life development and the role of good nutrition in childhood.
In the Children of the 90s study, prosocial behaviour was measured using parent questionnaires about their child at 7 and 9 years old.
The researchers also looked at associations between seafood intake at 7 years and IQ, but no link was found.
Dr Caroline Taylor, Associate Professor in Nutrition at the University of Bristol, said: “When there’s conflicting advice, it can be difficult to know what the best course of action is. Our previous studies have shown that eating fish during pregnancy in the UK can have a positive effect on child development.
“This has also been found in countries where fish intakes are higher than they are here, so encouraging fish consumption is likely to have a positive effect on child development.
“Our evidence to link fish consumption in children with the best behavioural development is clear, and we strongly recommend parents to provide at least two portions of fish a week in accordance with NHS guidelines.
“We hope these research findings empower parents with the knowledge to give their children the best start in life.”
Children of the 90s, the source of data for this study, has recently been awarded £5.2 million to continue its pioneering health research into thousands of families in the south-west of England.
Funding: The study was founded in the early 1990s by Professor Jean Golding, and has contributed to well over 3,000 research papers. The new funding will allow the study to continue its pioneering research, with a focus on the third generation of participants.
About this diet and social neurodevelopment research news
Author: Joanne Fryer
Source: University of Bristol
Contact: Joanne Fryer – University of Bristol
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Seafood intake in children at age 7 years and neurodevelopmental outcomes in an observational cohort study (ALSPAC)” by Caroline Taylor et al. European Journal of Nutrition
Abstract
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 7–9 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.
