Prenatal Beslenmenin Çocukların Zihinsel Gelişimine Etkisi: Bir Meta-Analiz

Öz

takviyelerinin çocukların zihinsel gelişimi üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmaya dahil edilen randomize kontrollü çalışmalar ve klinik araştırmalar, PRISMA yönergelerine uygun olarak sistematik literatür taraması sonucunda belirlenmiştir. Dahil edilme kriterleri; müdahalenin gebeliğin ikinci trimesterinden itibaren başlaması, zihinsel gelişimin standart bilişsel testlerle (Bayley, WPPSI, DAS vb.) değerlendirilmiş olması, yeterli istatistiksel verinin sunulması ve çalışmanın insan popülasyonunda yürütülmüş olmasıdır. Analizler, Hedges’ g etki büyüklüğü kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sonuçlar, omega-3 ve folik asit takviyelerinin genel bilişsel gelişim üzerinde tutarlı ve anlamlı bir etki oluşturmadığını, ancak bazı alt alanlarda (ör. sözel beceriler, dikkat) ve dezavantajlı çevresel koşullarda büyüyen çocuklarda olumlu etkiler gözlenebileceğini göstermiştir. Çinko takviyesinin ise bilişsel gelişim üzerinde anlamlı bir katkısı bulunmamıştır. Bulgular, takviyelerin etkilerinin yalnızca doz veya süreye değil; anne beslenme durumu, genetik faktörler ve doğum sonrasında çevresel koşullar gibi bağlamsal değişkenlere bağlı olarak farklılık gösterebileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu meta-analiz prenatal dönemde kullanılan mikrobesin takviyelerinin çocukların zihinsel gelişimi üzerinde tek tip bir etki göstermediğini, bu etkinin anne beslenme durumu ve çevresel koşullar gibi farklı faktörlere göre değişebileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Dahil edilen çalışma sayısının sınırlı olması, kullanılan testlerin farklılık göstermesi sonuçların genellenilebilirliğini kısıtlamaktadır. Sonuçların daha net anlaşılabilmesi için gelecekte daha fazla katılımcıyla yapılacak ve uzun süre devam edecek çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Omega-3
• folik asit
• çinko
• gebelik
• zihinsel gelişim

The Effects of Prenatal Nutrition on Cognitive Development in Children: A Meta-Analysis

Öz

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, and zinc supplementation administered from the second trimester of pregnancy until delivery on children’s cognitive development. Eligible randomized controlled trials and clinical studies were identified through a systematic literature search conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: initiation of supplementation from the second trimester, assessment of cognitive development with standardized tests (e.g., Bayley, WPPSI, DAS), sufficient statistical data, and studies conducted in human populations. Analyses were performed using Hedges’ g effect size.The findings indicated that omega-3 and folic acid supplementation did not produce consistent or significant effects on overall cognitive development. However, potential benefits were observed in specific domains, such as verbal skills and attention, particularly among children growing up in disadvantaged environments. Zinc supplementation showed no significant impact on cognitive outcomes.These results suggest that the effectiveness of prenatal micronutrient supplementation may depend not only on dosage and intervention duration but also on contextual factors, including maternal nutritional status, genetic background, and postnatal environmental conditions. This meta-analysis demonstrates that prenatal micronutrient supplementation does not exert a uniform effect on children’s cognitive development, and that outcomes may vary depending on individual and environmental differences. The limited number of included studies and the variability of cognitive assessment tools restrict the generalizability of these findings. Future large-scale randomized trials with longer follow-up periods are required to strengthen the evidence base and clarify the role of prenatal micronutrient supplementation in cognitive development.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Omega-3
• folic acid
• zinc
• pregnancy
• cognitive development

Kaynakça

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