Can Early Nutrition Affect Mental Development?

Yes—early nutrition plays a critical role in shaping mental development, especially during the first 1,000 days of life, which includes pregnancy and the first two years after birth.

During this period, the brain is growing faster than at any other time in a person’s life.

Nutrients don’t just support physical growth; they help build the very structure and function of the developing brain.

When nutrition is poor or lacking in key areas, the effects on cognitive ability, emotional regulation, and even long-term academic performance can be significant.

The Brain Grows Fast—and Needs Fuel

A newborn’s brain triples in size by the age of two. To support this rapid development, the brain requires a consistent supply of energy, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Among the most important nutrients for brain growth are:

What Happens When Nutrition Is Lacking?

Nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy or infancy can disrupt brain architecture. For example:

A study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2019) showed that children with early malnutrition scored significantly lower on developmental assessments, even when food insecurity was later resolved. The early window is especially sensitive, and missed nutrients during this time can be difficult—sometimes impossible—to fully make up for later.

Infant Formula Concerns

When we talk about early nutrition, the focus is often on what nutrients a child needs,  but just as important is how those nutrients are delivered. For premature and low birth weight infants, feeding decisions are especially delicate.

These babies are often cared for in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and may rely on formula instead of breast milk, especially in their first days or weeks of life.

However, emerging research has raised serious concerns about the use of cow’s milk-based formulas in preterm infants. Multiple studies have linked these formulas to a higher risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)—a dangerous and sometimes fatal intestinal condition.

NEC can cause bowel inflammation, perforation, sepsis, and long-term complications like nutrient malabsorption or developmental delays.

In light of this, many families whose infants developed NEC after being fed certain formulas have taken legal action. The NEC Lawsuit Update reflects a growing effort to investigate whether manufacturers failed to warn healthcare providers and parents about the risks associated with feeding these products to vulnerable newborns.

Recent court rulings have brought the issue to national attention, with some cases resulting in jury awards of hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. These developments are more than legal headlines—they are a stark reminder that not all infant feeding options are risk-free, and that nutrition decisions made in the NICU can have lifelong consequences.

Key Research Findings on Early Nutrition and Mental Development

Here are some landmark studies that show how early diet influences brain outcomes:

1. Project Viva (Harvard University, ongoing)
   • A long-term study tracking pregnant women and their children.
   • Found that higher maternal fish intake (rich in DHA) was associated with better language and cognitive scores in their children at age 3.
2. The ALSPAC Study (UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children)
   • Showed that poor prenatal diet (high in sugar, low in nutrients) correlated with more behavioral problems and lower cognitive scores at ages 4 and 8.
3. Bangladesh Nutrition Trial (2017)
   • Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
   • Children who received lipid-based nutrient supplements from 6 to 24 months had improved language development and social-emotional behavior at age 2 compared to peers who did not.
4. Dewey and Adu-Afarwuah Review (2008)
   • Found that protein-energy supplementation during pregnancy and infancy led to better motor and cognitive outcomes in low-income settings.
5. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
   • Studies showed that breastfed infants scored higher on IQ tests and had improved white matter brain volume, potentially due to DHA and bonding effects.

The Gut-Brain Connection Starts Early Too

Your gut instinct is real! A @USCDornsife study uncovered a surprising gut-brain connection, linking gut imbalances to changes in brain chemistry in children with autism. Another example of how university research transforms lives. 🧠 https://t.co/AaiIKHmhoD

— USC (@USC) April 17, 2025

The connection between the gut and the brain isn’t just something that develops later in life—it begins forming in infancy, and early nutrition plays a major role in shaping that link.

The gut and the brain communicate constantly through what’s known as the gut-brain axis—a two-way communication system involving nerve signals, immune responses, and hormone-like messengers. And a big player in this system is the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria and other microbes that live in the digestive tract.

During the first year of life, the gut microbiome is still forming and highly sensitive to diet, medications, and birth conditions.

Babies born via C-section or given antibiotics early in life often show reduced microbial diversity, meaning fewer beneficial bacteria that are essential for gut health and immune development. This imbalance—known as dysbiosis—has been linked in studies to higher rates of allergies, mood disorders, and even neurodevelopmental issues later on.

Why does this matter for mental development? Because the gut is not just about digestion—it also plays a powerful role in emotional regulation.

Over 90% of the body’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter crucial for mood, sleep, and behavior, is produced in the gut. Certain gut bacteria help regulate this production, influence stress response systems, and even impact how the brain responds to new environments or social situations.

Supportive nutrition early in life can help promote a balanced microbiome. Breast milk is rich in prebiotics—special fibers that feed healthy bacteria—and contains probiotics naturally. It also delivers antibodies and enzymes that help shape the infant’s gut environment. For formula-fed babies, newer formulations now include added prebiotics and probiotics to mimic some of these protective benefits.

Later on, as solid foods are introduced, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fiber-rich foods, this support continues. Fermented foods like yogurt (for toddlers), along with naturally occurring fibers in oats, bananas, and legumes, all encourage the growth of brain-friendly bacteria.

How Parents and Caregivers Can Support Brain-Healthy Nutrition

• During Pregnancy:
  • Ensure adequate intake of folate, iron, iodine, omega-3s, and protein.
  • Avoid high-mercury fish and ultra-processed foods.
  • Consider prenatal supplements under medical guidance.
• 0 to 6 Months:
  • Breastfeed if possible (provides DHA, immune factors, and easily digestible nutrients).
  • Use iron-fortified infant formula if not breastfeeding.
• 6 to 24 Months:
  • Introduce iron-rich solids early (meat, lentils, iron-fortified cereals).
  • Continue with healthy fats—avocado, eggs, nut butters (age-appropriate).
  • Offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for micronutrient diversity.

Long-Term Outcomes: Nutrition Today, Academics Tomorrow

It’s a powerful reminder that mental development isn’t just genetic—it’s shaped daily by food, care, and environment.

Final Thoughts

We often talk about early nutrition in terms of weight and growth charts, but the brain is perhaps where nutrition matters most.

Each meal served during pregnancy and early childhood builds the child’s future brain architecture. That’s why parents, caregivers, and public health programs must prioritize nutrient-rich, developmentally appropriate foods early on.

The science is clear: what a child eats in the first 1,000 days can help determine how well they think, learn, and thrive for decades to come.