Shun junk food for improving kid's IQ

The study looked at the link between the eating habits of children at various stages.

SYDNEY: Babies and infants fed junk food may have a slightly reduced IQ, while those going in for healthy diets have a slightly higher IQ, says a study.

The study, led by University of Adelaide Public Health researcher Lisa Smithers, looked at the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and two years, and their IQ at eight years of age.

The study of more than 7,000 children compared a range of dietary patterns, including traditional and contemporary home-prepared food, ready-prepared baby foods, breastfeeding and junk foods, the European Journal of Epidemiology reported.

"Diet supplies the nutrients needed for the development of brain tissues in the first two years of life, and the aim of this study was to look at what impact diet would have on children's IQs," said Smithers, according to a university statement.

"We found that children who were breastfed at six months and had a healthy diet regularly including foods such as legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 and 24 months, had an IQ up to two points higher by age eight," said Smithers.

"Those children who had a diet regularly involving biscuits, chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to two points lower by age eight. We also found some negative impact on IQ from ready-prepared baby foods given at six months, but some positive associations when given at 24 months," she added.