Seafood and Neurocognitive Development in Children: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Seafood is a source of essential nutrients to support neurocognitive development of children and adolescents, but there are concerns about contaminant exposure. Assessing seafood as a food group, rather than a source of nutrients or contaminants, can inform future dietary guidance. This study aimed to update and assess relationships between seafood consumption during childhood and adolescence and neurocognitive development. Three electronic databases were searched until September 2024 to update a previous search from 2000 to 2019. Articles were included if associations were assessed between seafood intake during childhood and adolescence and neurocognitive development outcomes (cognitive development, social-emotional and behavioral development, movement/physical development, language/communication development, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder). All articles were screened at title, abstract, and full-text levels by 2 independent analysts. Data were extracted by 1 analyst, quality checked by a second analyst, and synthesized narratively by 2 analysts independently, considering direction, magnitude, and statistical significance of results for each outcome; discrepancies were resolved via discussion. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-E and ROB 2.0. Certainty of evidence was assessed with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Eighteen articles from 5 short-term (12-16 wk) RCTs…
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