Birth to more intelligent babies

Eating the traditional English fry-up during pregnancy could help boost babies’ intelligence, according to new research. Bacon and eggs are rich in a nutrient called choline — which is also found in fish, chicken, milk, liver, legumes, nuts, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, according to mirror. co.uk.

A study of more than two dozen infants found those whose mothers consumed most choline during the last three months of their term performed better in tests that measured IQ.

There was a dramatic improvement in information processing speed, one of the key signs of intelligence.

The same has been found in mice and now scientists have shown it also works in humans.

The full English breakfast is not normally associated with good health but egg yolks and lean red meat, such as bacon, are particularly rich in choline.

Nutritionist Professor Marie Caudill, of Cornell University, New York, said, “In animal models using rodents, there is widespread agreement supplementing the maternal diet with additional amounts of this single nutrient has lifelong benefits on offspring cognitive function.

“Our study provides some evidence that a similar result is found in humans.”

In the study, 26 participants were randomly divided into two groups, one of which consumed almost twice as much choline as the other.

The findings are especially important because choline is vital during pregnancy but most women consume less than the recommended 450 milligrams a day.

Half the women received 480 milligram/day of choline, slightly more than the adequate intake level, and the other 930 milligram.

Afterwards, the researchers tested infant information processing speed and visuospatial memory at 4, 7, 10 and 13 months of age.

They timed how long each infant took to look toward an image on the periphery of a computer screen, a measure of the time it takes for a cue to produce a motor response.

The test has been shown to correlate with IQ in childhood.

Senior author Dr. Richard Canfield, a developmental psychologist at the university’s Division of Nutritional Sciences, explained: “Part of that is due to current dietary trends and practices.

“There are a lot of choline rich foods that have a bad reputation these days.”

Eggs, for example, are high in cholesterol, and health professionals, including those in the government, have raised caution about pregnant women consuming them undercooked.

This may deter women from eating them altogether. Red meats are often avoided for their high saturated fat content.