New research highlighting the potential importance of diet in social development shows that children who eat fish regularly tend to exhibit more sharing, familiarity and altruistic behavior than their peers who consume little or no seafood.
A study from the University of Bristol, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, found that 7-year-old children with the lowest seafood consumption were less likely to exhibit “prosocial” behaviors at both their age and two years later, compared to children who ate fish more frequently.
This link between fish consumption and behavioral development adds a new dimension to the ongoing conversations about child nutrition, moving beyond more commonly studied indicators of physical and cognitive development.
“It’s difficult to know what the best course of action is when there is conflicting advice,” said Dr. Caroline Taylor, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Bristol, who has studied nutrition for pregnant women and children for over a decade. “Our evidence linking the consumption of fish in children with the highest behavioral development is clear and we strongly recommend that you provide at least two fish in accordance with NHS guidelines.”
The researchers analyzed data from 5,969 participants in a long-term “children of the 90s” study that tracked individuals born in the southwestern England in the early 1990s. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child’s behavior at ages 7 and 9 and provided information about their dietary habits.
In particular, this study found that almost all children in the sample consumed NHS recommended fish, including at least one fatty fish, such as Salmon and mackerel. This widespread impermeability can be attributed in part to previous public health messages highlighting concerns about potential contaminants in fish, including mercury.
The research team managed a variety of social and demographic factors that could influence outcomes and helped to isolate the relationship between seafood consumption and behavior. The study found a link to prosocial behavior, but the researchers found no association between 7-year-old fish intake and IQ scores.
Seafood is rich in nutrients that are thought to be important for brain development, such as omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and iodine. Furthermore, normal fish consumption can serve as a marker for overall healthy eating patterns and lifestyle choices.
Findings occur when developmental psychologists and educators are increasingly highlighting the importance of more friendly interaction, sharing, and altruism. This usually begins to appear between the ages of 1 and 2, and becomes more complicated as the children develop.
“For a well-functioning society, encouraging prosocial behavior emphasizes the good role of nutrition in early childhood,” the researcher states in his paper.
This study is based on previous studies conducted by the same team that found the positive effects of maternal fish consumption during pregnancy on child development. The combined evidence suggests that fish intake is beneficial both prenatal and childhood.
This study adds nuance to nutritional guidance that may be inconsistent with parents. While past public health messages have been warned against excessive fish consumption due to contamination concerns, this study suggests that current reality is completely different.
“Our previous studies have shown that eating fish during pregnancy in the UK has a positive effect on child development. This has been found in countries where fish intake is higher than here, so promoting fish consumption is likely to have a positive effect on child development,” explained Dr. Taylor.
For parents navigating the occasional conflicting world of nutrition advice, this study offers relatively simple guidance. Incorporating seafood into a child’s diet can support not only physical health but social development at least twice a week.
The “Children of the 90s” study, which provided data for the study, recently received £5.2 million in funding to continue the health survey. Founded by Professor Jan Goulding in the early 1990s, longitudinal research has contributed to over 3,000 research papers and will expand to focus on third-generation participants.
Although this study shows a clear link between fish consumption and prosocial behavior, researchers acknowledge that more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind this relationship. Nevertheless, this finding provides parents with evidence-based information that will help them make dietary decisions for their children.
“We hope that these findings will give parents the best start in life to their children,” Dr. Taylor said.
If you find this piece useful, consider supporting your work with a small, one-off, or monthly donation. With your contributions, we enable you to continue bringing you reliable, accurate, thought-provoking science and medical news. Independent reporting requires time, effort and resources, and with your support we can continue to explore the stories that matter to you. Together, we can ensure that important discoveries and developments reach those who need them most.
