Skip to main content

Walnuts Among Omega-3 Foods Linked to Brain Development Benefits in Children and Adolescents

ISTANBUL, Türkiye – (ARAB NEWSWIRE) -- Two new studies add to growing evidence that a mother's diet during pregnancy has lasting implications for her child's brain development and decision-making skills- extending well beyond infancy into the teen years.

 
In a population-based cohort study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that higher maternal consumption of nuts and seafood during pregnancy was associated with improved neuropsychological function in children from ages 4 to 15.1 A complementary study published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry reported that maternal intake of nuts and fish was linked to reduced risky decision-making behaviors in children at age 11.2
 
The study evaluated a sample of more than 1,700 mother-child pairs from four Spanish regions was analyzed. Maternal diet was analyzed using a food frequency questionnaire, while the children's neuropsychological function was assessed through standardized tests measuring reaction time and variability (attention), working memory, and fluid intelligence.
 
While neither study focused exclusively on walnuts, both contribute to the broader evidence supporting the role of including nutrient-dense foods, such as nuts, as part of a healthy prenatal diet.
 
Key takeaways:
  • Children whose mothers consumed more nuts and seafood during pregnancy scored higher on measures of attention, working memory, and executive function throughout childhood and adolescence.
  • These children were also less likely to make impulsive, high-risk decisions in early adolescence.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids- abundant in walnuts and fatty fish- were identified as a key nutrient associated with these benefits. Walnuts are the only tree nut that is an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid ALA (2.7 grams/ounce).
 
References:
  1. Pinar-Martí A, Ayala-Aldana N, Ruiz-Rivera M, Lertxundi N, Subiza-Pérez M, González-Safont L, Vioque J, Riaño-Galán I, Rodríguez-Dehli C, Iglesias-Vázquez L, Arija V, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, Pascual-Rubio V, Fabregat-Sanjuan A, Healy D, Basagaña X, Vrijheid M, Guxens M, Foraster M, Julvez J. Maternal prenatal nut and seafood consumption and child neuropsychological function from 4 to 15 years of age: a population-based cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May 5:S0002-9165(25)00249-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.032. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40334748.
  2. Rivera MR, Pinar-Martí A, Babarro I, Ibarluzea J, Vioque J, Llop S, Fernández-Somoano A, Tardón A, Pascual-Rubio V, Fabregat-Sanjuan A, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, Guxens M, Julvez J. Maternal nut and fish consumption during pregnancy and child risky decision-making at 11 years old. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Jun 10. doi: 10.1007/s00787-025-02750-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40493090.



###
This article is issued through Arab Newswire (www.arabnewswire.com) – a newswire service for Arab World, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and it is distributed by EmailWire™ (www.emailwire.com) – the global newswire service that provides Press release distribution with guaranteed results™.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sahm Investment Strategy Summit Panel Discusses Saudi Arabia’s 2026 Investment Outlook

Riyadh, KSA -- ( ARAB NEWSWIRE ) — As Saudi Arabia's capital markets continue to evolve, investors are increasingly focused on how regulation, innovation and workforce development will shape opportunities in the years ahead. These themes were explored at the Sahm Investment Strategy Summit 2026  in Riyadh, hosted by Sahm Capital, where a dedicated panel examined Saudi Arabia's investment outlook for 2026 and the key factors influencing capital allocation and long-term market development.  The panel brought together leaders from the regulatory, private equity and financial education sectors to discuss how macro conditions, innovation ecosystems and human capital are converging to shape the next phase of growth. The session was moderated by Huma Ejaz, Vice President of Advisory and Asset Management at Sahm Capital.  Opening the discussion, Niaz Ahmad, Executive Director at ewpartners, highlighted Saudi Arabia's macroeconomic stability and ongoing mar...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sahm Marks Second Anniversary with Grand Giveback Celebrating Investor Growth

Riyadh – ( ARAB NEWSWIRE ) -- Sahm Capital is marking its second anniversary with a two-month promotional campaign that rewards investor participation and reflects the company's rapid growth in Saudi Arabia's evolving capital markets. The campaign features weekly cash prize draws, exclusive incentives for new customers, and enhanced referral rewards, underscoring Sahm's commitment to long-term value creation for retail investors in the Kingdom. Running from January 5 to March 1, 2026 , the Sahm Second Anniversary Grand Giveaway  offers  participants the opportunity to win weekly cash prizes of up to SAR 27,777, alongside additional rewards including smartphones and trading incentives. As part of the campaign, Sahm is hosting a weekly lucky draw  with three winners selected each week: a first prize of SAR 27,777 in cash , a second prize of SAR 17,777 in cash , and a third prize of an iPhone 17 Pro Max . Customers may earn multiple entries througho...
Post a Comment
Read more

BingX Introduces BingX TradFi, Expanding Access to Global Financial Markets

  PANAMA CITY – ( ARAB NEWSWIRE ) – BingX , a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 AI company, is excited to introduce BingX TradFi , an innovative feature that enables users to trade futures on a diverse range of global assets, including commodities, forex, stocks, and indices. With a remarkable variety in the choice of assets, outstanding trading experience, and top-notch security, BingX TradFi demonstrates its strong capability in providing a comprehensive solution to TradFi for crypto enthusiasts.   With this launch, BingX takes a significant step beyond cryptocurrency trading by integrating real-world financial assets into its platform. BingX TradFi creates an all-in-one portal where users can diversify their portfolios and capitalize on emerging market opportunities, with the recent addition of new commodity assets like aluminum, lead, cocoa, and soybeans, as well as new forex pairs including USDSGD, EURSGD, GBPSGD, and USDBRL. Accessible d...
Post a Comment
Read more