Research programme

Project Summary

There is evidence that early nutrition may affect mental performance. The idea that the diet of mothers, infants and children could affect later mental performance has major implications for public health practice and policy development and for our understanding of human biology as well as for food product development, economic progress and future wealth creation. However, much of the evidence to date is from animal, retrospective studies and short term nutritional intervention studies in humans.

Nutrimenthe aims to significantly improve knowledge in this area by studying the role, mechanisms, risks and benefits of specific nutrients and food components on the mental performance of children. The age of children addressed by Nutrimenthe ranges from foetal stage to childhood, from large, well characterised prospective studies. The nutrients that NutriMenthe is addressing include long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), minerals (iron and zinc) and B-vitamins as these have previously been indicated as important in mental performance.

Expected outcomes

Of the nutrients addressed by Nutrimenthe, there is a still a lack of clarity and little consensus on their role in neurodevelopment, mental performance and mental illness. Nutrimenthe aims to address this especially with respect to LC-PUFAs as their role is much debated in Europe currently.

Nutrimenthe will address key issues in mental health in EU children where diet could play a role for example cognitive development and cognition, anxiety/stress, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, depression and other related areas

A wealth of information will be generated on food intake which will be linked to biochemical measurements and to mental performance measurements in a large population across Europe. Using this data, Nutrimenthe aims to establish positive dietary recommendations for the nutrients addressed, for the European population as a whole.

A summary of the existing studies involved in Nutrimenthe is given below.

Generation R
Generation R is an ongoing study looking at the growth, development and health of children born in Rotterdam in The Netherlands, from foetal life onwards. 10000 children and their parents are taking part.

ALSPAC – the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
ALSPAC is one of the most important long-term health research project ever undertaken. 14000 pregnant women were recruited during their pregnancies in 1991 and 1992, and the study has followed the health and development of their children ever since. There is now a vast bank of information and biological samples from the children and their families that has become a unique resource used by scientists all over the world for vital research into a wide range of medical and social problems.

NUHEAL
NUHEAL was sponsored by the EU’s 5th Framework Programme. The project investigated the role of certain nutrients including fatty acids in cardiovascular health and infant development. Children that took part in this study are being follow-up as part of the NutriMenthe project.

CHOP – The EU childhood obesity programme
CHOP is sponsored by the EU’s 5th Framework programme and is investigating whether feeding infant formula which differ in their level of milk proteins compared to breast milk, can influence the risk of childhood obesity. Children that took part in this study are being follow-up as part of the NutriMenthe project to assess the role of different protein intake in early life on mental performance.

For information about the studies being initiated by Nutrimenthe, please visit the workpackages page.