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Prenatal methyl donor deficiency leads to homocysteine accumulation in the brain and impaired neurodevelopment in rats. We investigated the effect of moderately elevated preconception fasting total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) on child neurodevelopment in a prospective study of 67 and 76 mother-child pairs at 4 months and 6 years of age, respectively. Fasting blood samples at 2-10 weeks preconception, from the cord (nonfasting) and the mother and child 6 years after birth, were collected. Psychomotor and mental development were assessed at 4 months using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development (BSID) and cognitive development at 6 years using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). Highest tertile preconception tHcy (≥9.04 µmol/L) was categorized as moderately elevated and low-mid tertile tHcy as normal. Children, born to mothers with moderately elevated compared to normal preconception tHcy, scored lower [mean (95% CI)] in the BSID psychomotor [115 (105, 124) vs. 126 (121, 130), p = 0.03] and mental [101 (93, 109) vs. 113 (107, 119), p = 0.03] development tests. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that moderately elevated compared to normal preconception tHcy was associated with greater probability, OR (95%CI), of scoring in the lowest tertile for BSID psychomotor development (≤120): 4.0 (1.1, 14.3) and lowest tertiles for WPPSI full (≤111), verbal (≤104) and performance (≤111), intellectual quotient: 6.0 (1.5, 23.7), 3.5 (1.1, 11.2) and 4.1 (1.1, 15.7), respectively. We conclude that moderately elevated preconception tHcy is inversely associated with psychomotor and cognitive development scores in infants and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between the degree of severity of eating disorders (ED) and energy and nutrient intakes and nutritional risk in a mixed-sex adolescent population without clinical symptoms.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData were collected in schools.SubjectsAdolescents (n 495) aged 14·2 (sd 1·0) years. The Eating Attitudes Test was used to detect adolescents at risk of ED (rED) and a structured interview based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, was used to diagnose eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Dietary intake was quantified using the 24 h recall method over three days and the probability of inadequate intake was determined.ResultsFemales presented lower intakes of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients (Ca, Fe, Mg, K, P, Na, thiamin, vitamins E, C, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, folic acid) because the severity of their ED was greater. These lower dietary intakes led to nutritional risk (for Ca, Fe, Mg, P, vitamins A, D, B6) in more than 80 % and 60 % of females with EDNOS and rED, respectively. The multiple linear regression models showed that the rED and EDNOS groups presented a lower energy intake of 1597·4 kJ/d (381·8 kcal/d) and 3153·0 kJ/d (753·6 kcal/d), respectively. In contrast, little difference was observed in the nutritional intakes of males.ConclusionsThe female adolescents showed lower energy and nutrient intakes as the ED became more severe, which led to energy, vitamin and mineral deficiencies in a high percentage of females with ED. These nutritional risks could hinder adequate physical and psychological development and lead to chronic ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Introduction: validated food frequency questionnaires in children are scarce, mostly long, and only provide data about food consumption. Objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a short food frequency questionnaire that estimates energy, nutritional intake, and the frequency of food consumption in children aged between 3 and 6 years. Material and methods: in 49 children (57% boys), the reproducibility and validity of a frequency questionnaire with 41 items was assessed using Spearman's and intraclass correlations, both adjusted and not adjusted for energy. A 6-day record was used as a reference method. Results: reproducibility was high in food groups with correlations > 0.70 for most of them and between 0.5 and 0.7 for meat, fish, potatoes, sweets/soft drinks, and oil. For energy and nutrients correlations were > 0.9 and > 0.7, respectively. Validity was strong to moderate for foods with correlations > 0.7 (dairy and milk) and between 0.4 and 0.7 (sausages, eggs, yogur/cheese, vegetables and oil), and for nutrients with correlations > 0.5 (lipids, AGS, AGP, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin E and vitamin C) and between 0.3 and 0.5 (energy, starches, fiber, MUFA, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium, potassium, retinol, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 and folates). All correlations were significant and increased after they had been adjusted for energy. Conclusions: the short food frequency questionnaire for children between 3 and 6 years old has high reproducibility and good validity with results that are as good as those of long food frequency questionnaires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Background: eating disorders are a group of conditions in which negative beliefs about food, body shape, and body weight together with behaviors such as restricted food intake, binge eating, excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, and use of laxatives. They can become serious, affect quality of life, and lead to multiple physical and even psychiatric complications with a fatal outcome. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the characteristics, epidemiology, and trends of eating disorders with updated information based on the most recent publications. Methods: we conducted a systematic literature search in Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The search terms were "anorexia nervosa", "bulimia nervosa", "binge eating disorders" and "epidemiology" both in titles and in abstracts. Results and conclusions: EDs generally occur in adolescents and young adults. The best characterized TCAs are anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (TA). Prevalence studies indicate wide differences by age group and sex, much higher in young women (NA, 0.1-2 %; BN, 0.37-2.98 %; BED, 0.62-4.45 %). The prevalence of EDs is 2.2 % (0.2-13.1 %) in Europe, 3.5 % (0.6-7.8 %) in Asia, and 4.6 % (2.0-13.5 %) in America. Comorbidity is high with psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During pregnancy a high amount of fatty acids (FA) is necessary to meet foetus demands, which vary during gestation. The present study describes the changes in maternal fatty acid concentrations during pregnancy in a sample of pregnant women.Methods: This is a longitudinal study of 479 pregnant women who were monitored from the first trimester to third trimester of pregnancy. Data on maternal characteristics were recorded and a serum sample was collected in each trimester. The fatty acid profile (saturated (SFA: total, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid), monounsaturated (MUFA: total, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA: total omega-6 (n-6), linoleic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid (AA), total omega-3 (n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) was analysed with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combination.Results: From the first trimester to third trimester of pregnancy, a significant increase in total SFA, total MUFA and total n-6 PUFA was found. (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, the serum concentration of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and total n-3 PUFA decreased during gestation (p < 0.001). A statistically non-significant result was observed for the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) serum concentration between the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Significant correlations were observed between each total fatty acid concentrations of the first and third trimesters.Conclusion: The circulating serum concentration of SFA, MUFA and n-6 PUFA increases during pregnancy, whereas essential fatty acids such as AA and EPA decrease, and DHA remains unchanged. Further research is necessary to understand the role played by FA throughout gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between pre- and perinatal factors and ADHD in a sample of scholars exploring differences between ADHD presentations and spectrum of severity. A total of 6720 scholars (aged 3–4 and 10–11) participated in a double-phase epidemiologic cross-sectional study (Epidemiological Study of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, EPINED), and a sample of 646 scholars (ADHD risk, ASD risk and controls without risk) were individually assessed in the second phase of the study. The ADHD diagnosis, based on DSM-5 criteria, was performed with the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders & Schizophrenia, Present & Lifetime Version. Associations for the different ADHD presentations between prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors and ADHD (n = 168), subclinical ADHD (n = 88) and non-ADHD (n = 310) were analysed. Logistic regression models showed that gestational diabetes (p = 0.012), instrumental delivery (p = 0.011), family history of psychopathology (p = 0.033) and maternal ADHD phenotype (p = 0.023) were associated with ADHD. These factors were related to the hyperactive–impulsive and combined presentations, but they were not related to the inattentive presentation. Maternal weight gain was associated with subclinical ADHD. In conclusion, metabolic disorder in the pregnancy, difficulties in childbirth and specific family phenotype were related to ADHD, specifically with hyperactive–impulsive presentation, but not in subclinical ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to assess the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in preschool and school-age children following a two-phase procedure. The screening phase was performed on a sample of 5555 children taking into account parent and teacher information. The individual assessment included the ADI-R, ADOS-2 and Wechsler scales. The estimated prevalence was 1.55% in preschoolers and 1.00% in school-age children. Between 1.84 and 2.59% of the children exhibited subclinical diagnosis. The male-to-female ratio was around 4:1. Most of the children exhibited mild and moderate nuclear symptoms, and the girls showed less severe communication problems. Previous diagnosis was found in 62-71% of the children. Prevalence estimates are close to the 1% international ratings and much higher than previous national reports suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescence is a period of vulnerability regarding the emergence of internalizing disorders such as anxiety. Anxiety symptoms can persist into adulthood and involve negative outcomes. The aim of the study was to examine the developmental trajectory of several anxiety subtypes by gender, in a non-clinical sample of early adolescents over three phases. Method: Using a prospective design, 1514 children (mean-age = 10.23, SD = 1.23) underwent anxiety and depression screening in the first phase. Then, 562 children (mean-age = 11.25, SD = 1.04) participated in the second phase, and 242 (mean-age = 13.52; SD = .94) were followed up in the third phase. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders was administered in all phases. Developmental trajectories of anxiety scores were examined using latent growth modelling. Results: Manifestations of social phobia and generalized anxiety disorders remained stable. Gender differences were found: boys showed a significant decrease in the developmental trajectories of somatic/panic symptoms, separation anxiety disorder and total anxiety in comparison to girls. Conclusions: The data indicate that anxiety symptomatology is a significant clinical phenomenon in school-age children but that it does not increase throughout early adolescence. It is important to identify developmental patterns for anxiety subtypes and in relation to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal exposure to heavy metals poses risks to fetal brain development, yet the joint effects of these metals remain unclear, with inconsistent findings across statistical models. This study investigates the joint effect of prenatal exposure to cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) on infant neurodevelopment using various statistical approaches. The study included 400 mother-infant pairs. Heavy metal levels were measured in maternal urine samples at the 12th week of gestation, and infant neurodevelopment at 40 days was evaluated by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Generalized Additive Models (GAM), Multivariable Linear Regression (MLR) with restricted cubic spline (RCS), Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression were applied to explore the associations between heavy metal exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. GAM revealed a significant linear relationship for Cd with cognitive scale (p = 0.045) and expressive language (p = 0.043). MLR confirmed that Cd was negatively associated with both cognitive scale (β = -1.47, p = 0.044) and expressive language (β = -0.32, p = 0.019) and RCS presented a non-linear association between Pb and language scale (p = 0.001). BKMR suggested a negative but non-significant association with most outcomes. WQS indicated a significant adverse effect of metal mixture on expressive language (β = -0.26, 95% CI = -0.44, -0.07), identifying Cd and Ni as the primary contributors. Prenatal exposure to heavy metals have detrimental effects on infant neurodevelopment, especially on language development., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP) traits may be present in parents of children on the autism spectrum. However, the prevalence and impact of these traits on parental mental health is poorly understood. We explore BAP traits and its relationship to mental health in 228 fathers and 261 mothers from a sample of 266 scholars from the EPINED study (Spain) grouped as follows: non-autism (N = 122), autism traits (N = 93: 38 subthreshold autism and 55 autism symptoms) and autism (N = 51). BAP rates were higher in fathers (36.9%) than in mothers (26.1%). Moreover, BAP was significantly more frequent in fathers of autistic children (52.3%) than in fathers of children without autistic traits (28.0%), with no differences between autistic conditions groups. Mothers of autistic children exhibited higher psychological distress (36.0%) than mothers of comparison group (19.2%). Fathers with BAP obtained significantly higher scores in emotional problems than fathers without BAP. Multivariate analyses showed that, fathers' emotional problems were associated with their BAP traits, whereas in mothers they were associated with having a child with autism as well as the child's emotional dysregulation. Identifying BAP in parents of autistic conditions children can help professionals to provide specific strategies for improving the well-being of children and parents., (© 2024 The Author(s). Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Mental health problems are highly prevalent in childhood and adolescence and may be associated with nutritional intake. It has recently been shown that a high percentage of infants and children consume large amounts of free sugars. In this paper, we analyse the relationship between free sugar consumption at 12 and 30 months and the risk of developing psychological problems at 30 months in a community sample of 86 children evaluated longitudinally. Socio-family and anthropometric data, and the amount of free sugars consumed were collected at both ages. At 30 months, the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 was administered to parents and an interview was conducted to identify psychological disorders in accordance with DC: 0-3's classification. We report a relationship between high free sugar consumption at 30 months and the concurrent presence of sleeping problems, ADHD and anxiety symptoms. However, no significant association was observed between free sugar consumption at 12 months and the subsequent development of psychological problems. Early detection of emotional and behavioural manifestations and high sugar consumption in children may help to prevent the persistence of psychological problems., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Lay Abstract: Autistic individuals face a higher risk of various forms of victimization throughout their lives, with bullying being especially prevalent during their school years. Previous studies indicate that autistic children are 2.4 times more likely to be bullied than their typically developing peers and twice as vulnerable as those with other disabilities. However, the extent of this issue among Spanish schoolchildren with autism remains unexplored. In addition, there is no information regarding the presence of bullying victimization in children with marked but undiagnosed autistic traits (i.e. subthreshold autistic traits). This study examines the self-reported prevalence of bullying victimization in autistic pre-adolescents and those with subthreshold autistic traits, comparing them with peers without neurodevelopmental conditions. The study involved 323 participants (11 and 12 years old; 45 with autism or subthreshold autistic traits) from Spanish general education schools. The results revealed a higher rate of bullying victimization among autistic participants (58%; 3.1 times higher risk) and those with subthreshold autistic traits (27%; 1.5 times higher risk) compared with their peers without neurodevelopmental conditions (18.3%). Victimization was linked to more intense restrictive behaviours and increased behavioural and emotional problems. No significant associations were found with other individual or family factors. Our findings underscore the heightened risk of bullying faced by autistic pre-adolescents and those with subthreshold autistic traits at school, emphasizing the need to identify and implement preventive measures to mitigate bullying and its detrimental impact on their mental well-being and overall quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

There is an increasing prevalence of psychological issues in childhood. Lifestyle factors during pregnancy, including maternal nutrition, have been linked to children's behavioural development. This study aims to assess the impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy on the behavioural problems of children at the age of 4. A total of 231 mother-child pairs were assessed. Maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy was estimated using a relative Mediterranean Diet Score (rMED). Behavioural outcomes were evaluated through the Child Behaviour Checklist 1½--5, Teacher's Report Form 1½-5, and Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version questionnaires. The results indicated that a higher rMED score during pregnancy was associated with a reduced probability of obtaining a clinical score for total problems (OR = 0.42; 95% IC from 0.21 to 0.85), including externalising (OR = 0.29; 95% IC from 0.14 to 0.62), attention problems (OR = 0.32; 95%IC from 0.15 to 0.70), attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems (OR = 0.36; 95% IC from 0.15 to 0.87), oppositional defiant problems (OR = 0.06; 95% IC from 0.06 to 0.75), and depressive problems (OR = 0.38; 95% IC from 0.15 to 0.96). This study highlights the importance of maternal diet, especially Mediterranean diet, during gestation for proper child development., (© 2024 The Author(s). Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Mental health problems often begin in early childhood and could predict psychiatric and behavioral outcomes. Prenatal factors such as maternal nutrition have an impact on neurodevelopment. This study aims to investigate the association between maternal dietary patterns and emotional and behavioral problems in 4-year-old children., Methods: Within a cohort of 205 mother-child pairs, three maternal dietary patterns were identified: 'Sweet and Superfluous', 'Fish and Vegetables' and 'Meat and Cereals'. Child behavior was evaluated by means of the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL 1.5-5), the Teacher's Report Form 1.5-5 (TRF 1.5-5), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). Multivariable analysis determined associations between maternal dietary patterns and their children's behavior., Results: Maternal adherence to the 'Sweet and Superfluous' pattern was positively associated with externalizing and depressive problems in children. The 'Meat and Cereals' pattern was linked to a higher risk for attention, hyperactivity and depressive problems as somatic complaints. Conversely, the 'Fish and Vegetables' pattern was associated with a reduced risk of hyperactivity problems. All these associations were more pronounced in girls than in boys., Conclusions: Maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with the emotional and behavioral development of children at 4 years of age., Impact: Previous research on prenatal dietary patterns and children's behavior is inconclusive. In our study, children of mothers who had higher intakes of sugar and processed foods during pregnancy were more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems at age 4, especially girls. A high-quality diet characterized by fish and vegetable consumption during pregnancy was associated with reduced anxiety and hyperactivity problems in girls. Our findings highlight the importance of prenatal nutrition for child neurodevelopment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbidity in the school population have been understudied. This study estimates its prevalence considering both parents' and teachers' reports and clinical diagnosis. Sociodemographic, clinical, and cognitive data were compared by diagnostic groups: autism, ADHD, autism and ADHD, subthreshold autism spectrum disorder (ASD), subthreshold ADHD, and children without neurodevelopmental conditions. Following a two-phase design, 3727 parents and teachers (1802 preschoolers, 1925 school-age children) participated in the first phase. Subsequently, 781 participants underwent individual assessment for DSM-5 diagnoses. The estimated prevalence of the comorbid diagnosis was 0.51% (0.28%-0.74%), with significant sex differences (0.16% girls, 0.89% boys). The cooccurrence of symptoms of autism and ADHD reported by parents or teachers was 3.2% and 2.6%, respectively. ADHD comorbidity was observed in 32.8% of autistic children and 31.4% of those with subthreshold ASD. ASD comorbidity was observed in 9.8% of children with ADHD and 5.7% of those with subthreshold ADHD. Comorbidity was reported by at least one informant in 95% of children. Only 15.8% of children with autism and ADHD had been previously diagnosed with both conditions. Early detection and accurate comorbidity diagnosis are crucial to address the clinical and socio-educational needs of these children., (© 2024 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Prenatal exposure to dietary toxicants is linked to neurocognitive issues, but its effect on early emotional and behavioral development in children is less clear. To explore the relationship between prenatal intake of As, iAs, Cd, MeHg, Pb, PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and NDL-PCBs and emotional and behavioral issues in four-year-old children. This study included 192 mother-child pairs from the ECLIPSES study, assessing prenatal dietary toxicant exposure through a food-frequency questionnaire and Catalan Food Safety Agency data. Children's emotional and behavioral scores were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 years. Multivariable regression and logistic models were used, focusing on iAs after finding significant preliminary associations. Increased prenatal dietary intake of iAs was associated with internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems. Higher iAs levels (>4.16 μg/day) significantly increased the risk of total problems (OR = 2.94) and specific issues like anxious/depressed (OR = 4.88), anxiety (OR = 3.27), and oppositional defiant problems (OR = 4.30). High iAs consumption correlated with the intake of meat, eggs, cereals, tubers, fruits, and pulses Prenatal dietary iAs exposure is associated with various emotional and behavioral problems in children. Monitoring and reducing iAs levels in food are crucial for public health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

It can be challenging to assign patients to the appropriate intervention programs, as risk and protective factors for developing emotional disorders are multiple and shared across disorders. This study aimed to provide a theoretical and empirical approach to identify and categorise adolescents into different levels of severity. The risk of developing emotional symptoms was assessed in 1425 Spanish adolescents (M = 14.34, SD = 1.76; 59.9% women). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify subgroups based on their emotional symptom severity, risk, and resilience factors. Results revealed four profiles: at low risk (emotionally healthy), moderate risk (for selective interventions), high risk (for indicated interventions), and severe risk (for clinical referral). Older age and especially female gender were predictors of higher risk clusters, and there were differences in the levels of psychopathology and health-related quality of life across clusters. Identification of at-risk adolescents for emotional disorders by means of LPA may contribute to designing personalised and tailored prevention programs that match adolescents' specific needs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ( n -3 LCPUFAs) play a key role in early neurodevelopment, but evidence from observational and clinical studies remains inconsistent. This study investigates the association between maternal n -3 LCPUFA, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations during pregnancy and infant development functioning at 40 days. This study includes 348 mother-infant pairs. Maternal serum concentrations were assessed in the first and third trimesters alongside sociodemographic, clinical, nutritional, psychological, and obstetrical data. At 40 days, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) was administered. An adjusted analysis revealed that lower first-trimester n -3 LCPUFA and DHA concentrations are associated with better infant motor development. These results underscore the potential significance of the maternal n -3 LCPUFA status in early pregnancy for influencing fetal neurodevelopment. However, the complexity of these associations necessitates further investigation, emphasizing the urgent need for additional studies to comprehensively elucidate the nuanced interplay between the maternal n -3 LCPUFA status and infant neurodevelopment.

Few studies have examined the psychometric properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in a large adolescent community sample, finding a significant disparity. This study explores the psychometric properties of the CD-RISC among Spanish adolescents by means of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Rasch analysis, and measurement invariance (MI) across sex, as well as internal consistency and criterion validity. The sample was comprised of 463 adolescents (231 girls), aged 12 to 18 years, who completed the CD-RISC and other measures on emotional status and quality of life. The EFA suggested that the CD-RISC structure presented a unidimensional model. Consequently, shorter unidimensional CD-RISC models observed in the literature were explored. Thus, the Campbell-Sills and Stein CD-RISC-10 showed the soundest psychometric properties, providing an adequate item fit and supporting MI and non-differential item functioning across sex. Item difficulty levels were biased toward low levels of resilience. Some items showed malfunctioning in lower response categories. With regard to reliability, categorical omega was. 82. Strong associations with health-related quality of life, major depressive disorder symptoms, and emotional symptoms were observed. A weak association was found between resilience and the male sex. Campbell-Sills and Stein's CD-RISC-10 model emerges as the best to assess resilience among Spanish adolescents, as already reported in adults. Thus, independently of the developmental stage, the core of resilience may reside in the aspects of hardiness and persistence.

Introduction: The effectiveness of prenatal iron supplementation improves maternal hematological outcomes, but little research has focused on child outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess whether prenatal iron supplementation adjusted to maternal needs improves children's cognitive functioning., Methods: The analyses included a subsample of nonanemic pregnant women recruited in early pregnancy and their children aged 4 years (n=295). Data were collected between 2013 and 2017 in Tarragona (Spain). On the basis of hemoglobin levels before the 12th gestational week, women receive different iron doses: 80 vs 40 mg/d if hemoglobin is 110-130 g/L and 20 vs 40 mg/d if hemoglobin >130 g/L. Children's cognitive functioning was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV and Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment-II tests. The analyses were carried out in 2022 after the completion of the study. Multivariate regression models were performed for assessing the association between different doses of prenatal iron supplementation and children's cognitive functioning., Results: Taking 80 mg/d of iron was positively associated with all the scales of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV and Neuropsychological Assessment-II when mothers had initial serum ferritin <15 µg/L, but it was negatively associated with Verbal Comprehension Index, Working Memory Index, Processing Speed Index, and Vocabulary Acquisition Index from Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV and verbal fluency index from Neuropsychological Assessment-II when mothers showed initial serum ferritin >65 µg/L. In the other group, taking 20 mg/d of iron was positively associated with Working Memory Index, Intelligence Quotient, verbal fluency, and emotion recognition indices when women had initial serum ferritin >65 µg/L., Conclusions: Prenatal iron supplementation adjusted to the maternal hemoglobin levels and baseline iron stores improves cognitive functioning in children aged 4 years., (Copyright © 2023 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prenatal prescription of standard iron supplements to prevent iron deficiency appears not to be appropriate for all women and their children, as some women may be at risk of iron deficiency and others at risk of iron excess early in pregnancy. The present study aimed to assess whether prenatal iron supplementation adapted to the needs of each pregnant woman affects their child's neurodevelopment., Methods: Follow-up of a community-based RCT involving 503 mother-child pairs. Non-anaemic pregnant women recruited in Tarragona (Spain) early in pregnancy were prescribed a daily iron dose based on their initial haemoglobin levels: Stratum 1 (Hb = 110-130 g/L, 80 or 40 mg/d of iron) and Stratum 2 (Hb > 130 g/L, 40 or 20 mg/d of iron). Women receiving 40 mg/d were considered the control group in each Strata. The child's neurodevelopment was assessed at 40 days of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III). Adjusted multiple regression models were used., Results: Multiple regression analyses showed no association between the intervention and control group within each Strata on the BSID-III scores on any of the developmental scales in children, including cognitive, language, and motor development: Stratum 1 (β 1.46, 95%CI -2.15, 5.07; β 1.30, 95%CI -1.99, 4.59; and β 2.04, 95%CI -3.88, 7.96, respectively) and Stratum 2 (β -4.04, 95%CI -7.27, 0.80; β -0.36, 95%CI -3.47, 2.75; and β -3.76, 95%CI -9.30, 1.78, respectively)., Conclusions: In non-anaemic women in early pregnancy, no differences were found in the cognitive, language and motor development of children at 40 days of age between the dose of iron tested in each case -adjusted to initial Hb levels- compared to the dose of the control group. Further studies are guaranteed to confirm our findings., Trial Registration: The ECLIPSES study was registered at www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu as EudraCT number 2012-005,480-28., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Prenatal exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, has been associated with negative effects on a child's neuropsychological functioning. The present work aimed to investigate the associations between prenatal exposure to air pollution on a child's cognitive, language, and motor function at 40 days of age in a highly exposed area of Spain. From the ECLIPSES study population, the present work counted 473 mother-child pairs. Traffic-related air pollution levels at home addresses during the whole pregnancy were estimated including particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ), <10 μm (PM 10 ) and 2.5-10 μm (PM coarse ), PM 2.5 absorbance, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), other nitrogen oxides (NO x ), and ozone (O 3 ) using land-use regression models developed within ESCAPE and ELAPSE projects. Children's cognitive, language, and motor functions were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development 3rd edition (BSID-III) at around 40 days of age. Linear regression models were adjusted for maternal biological, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, area deprivation index, and amount of greenness around the home's address. All air pollutants assessed, except PM 2.5 absorbance, were associated with lower motor function in children, while no association was observed between prenatal exposure to air pollution and cognitive and language functions. This finding highlights the need to continue raising awareness of the population-level impact that maternal exposure to air pollution even at low levels can have on the neuropsychological functions of children., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of the Review: The aim is to examine data from clinical trials and prospective longitudinal studies that evaluate the effect of infant formula supplements on the cognitive function of children., Recent Findings: A total of 300 articles from 2000 to 2021 were selected. The most researched IF supplements were initially long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), some proteins and, recently, milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). Supplementation of IF with LC-PUFA led to some positive effects on specific cognitive functions or no effect; however, there was no consistent benefit for cognitive function. Modifying the amount of proteins did not affect the children's neuropsychological tests. Supplementation of IF with MFGM and its components had beneficial effects on child cognitive development in the short term, but no effect was observed in the long term. Further studies are needed to confirm the safety of supplementation on the development of cognitive function in children fed with infant formula., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Children with autism spectrum disorders show higher food selectivity, which restricts consumption of some foods and may cause nutritional deficiencies. The aims of this meta-analysis are to determine the overall differences in nutritional intake and food consumption between children with autism spectrum disorder and control (typical development) children, as well as determine the extent to which the nutritional intake and food consumption of autistic children comply with the dietary recommendations. Children with autism spectrum disorder consume less protein (standardized mean difference = -0.27, 95% confidence interval (-0.45, -0.08)), calcium (-0.56 (-0.95, -0.16)), phosphorus (-0.23 (-0.41, -0.04)), selenium (-0.29 (-0.44, -0.13)), vitamin D (-0.34 (-0.57, -0.11)), thiamine (-0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)), riboflavin (-0.25 (-0.45, -0.05)) and vitamin B12 (-0.52 (-0.95, -0.09)) and more polyunsaturated fat acid (0.27 (0.11, 0.44)) and vitamin E (0.28 (0.03, 0.54)) than controls. Autistic children also consume less omega-3 (-0.83 (-1.53, -0.16)) and more fruit (0.35 (0.12, 0.59)) and vegetables (0.35 (0.09, 0.61)) than control children; however, these results must be considered with care due to the low number of studies included in the analysis and the high heterogeneity. The results also suggest a lower intake of calcium, vitamin D and dairy and a higher intake of fruit, vegetables, protein, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B12 than recommended.