Maternal Dietary Factors and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review of Existing Evidence
Abstract
Prenatal maternal diet is a critical factor in offspring neurodevelopment. Emerging evidence suggests that prenatal diet may also play a role in the etiology autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review summarizes studies published in English that examined prenatal nutrients or maternal diet in association with ASD from PubMed as of July 2020. Thiry‐six studies from nine countries were included in this systematic review; these focused on multivitamin (n = 5), prenatal vitamin (n = 3), folic acid (FA; n = 14), Vitamin D (n = 11), polyunsaturated fatty acid or fish/supplement intake (n = 7), iron (n = 3), Vitamin B12 (n = 1), calcium (n = 1), magnesium (n = 1), and broad maternal dietary habits (n = 3). Overall, higher or moderate intake of prenatal/multivitamin, FA, and Vitamin D was associated with reductions in odds of ASD, though results have not been uniform and there is a need to clarify differences in findings based on biomarkers versus reported intake. Evidence was inconclusive or insufficient for other nutrients. Differences in the timing and measurement of these dietary factors, as well as potential residual confounding, may contribute to existing discrepancies. Key areas for future research to better understand the role of maternal diet in ASD include the need to address potential critical windows, examine the combined effect of multiple nutrients, and consider interactions with genetic or environmental factors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1002/aur.2402
Entities
People
- Brian K. Lee
- Caichen Zhong
- Jillian Tessing
- Kristen Lyall
Organizations
- Drexel University
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- National Institutes of Health
- United States Department of Defense