Pregnancy supplementation and breastfeeding in association with anthropometry and early childhood development

Abstract

Uncertainty on the effects of folic acid (FA), iodine (I) and iron (Fe) supplementation in pregnancy on children´s outcomes persist, particularly in Portugal where studies are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FA, I or Fe supplementation in pregnancy and also breastfeeding and infant anthropometry and neurodevelopment. This study relies on the SleePsy project. Parents with children aged 18-30 months, born at term without a previous diagnosis of developmental disorders were invited to participate. Children taking medication and twins were excluded. Information regarding pregnancy and anthropometry at birth was retrospectively collected. Current anthropometry and neurodevelopment (Scale of Growing Skills II) were assessed in person at 18-30 months. Of 171 children, median age (P25; P75) of 22 months (20; 25), 59% were boys, 73% were single children and 76% attended daycare. Folic acid, iodine or iron supplementation during pregnancy did not associate with anthropometric measures from birth to 18-30 months of age, except for Fe, which associated positively with birth length z-scores. Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy positively associated with manipulative skills at 18-30 months of age. On the other hand, breastfeeding tended to attenuate the increase of weight and BMI from birth to 18-30 months of age while breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with locomotive and social self-care skills in early childhood. This study evidences that micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding may impact neurodevelopment in early childhood and it may contribute to the assessment of current national health policies focused on early-life nutrition.