Infants who were given a lot of processed foods will probably have a lower IQ in their lives in the next period, say a study in the UK.
The conclusion, published earlier this week comes from a long-term investigation to the 14,000 people who were born in western England in 1991 and 1992. Health and fitness are monitored at the age of three, four, seven and eight and a half years.
Parents of these children filled out a list of questions, including details of the types of foods and beverages consumed by their children.
The results were divided into three patterns of food, which has a high content of refined sugar and fat; food "traditional" which contains meat and vegetables, and the last is food "health-conscious" with lots of salads, fruits and vegetables, pasta and rice.
When the children were aged eight and a half years, their IQ was measured using a standard tool called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale.
Data from 4,000 children concluded there are significant differences in IQ in those who consume food "refined" compared with children who ate food "health-conscious."
As many as 20 percent of children who consume lots of processed foods have an average IQ of 101 points, while 20 percent of children who ate food "health-conscious" has an IQ of 106 points.
"The difference was small, really, it's not a big difference," said the study author, Pauline Emmett of the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, reports the French news agency AFP.
"But it certainly makes them less capable in dealing with education, are less able to deal with some of the conditions of life," said Pauline Emmet.
The relationship between IQ and nutrition are still hotly debated, because it can be influenced by many factors, including economic background and social.
One family of middle-class, for example, might be more interested (or more capable financially) to provide healthy foods or have a stronger incentive to stimulate the appetite of their children, compared with poorer households.
Emmet said the team gave special attention to filter out such confusing circumstances.
"We have been monitoring the mother's education, for social class, maternal age, whether they live in public housing, the events during life, disruption, neighborhood, favorite reading books and using the television as well as others," said Emmet.
The size of the study was also unprecedented. "That is an example of a very large, it is far greater than anything that has been done to others," Emmett said in an interview with AFP.
Emmet said further activities needed to see if a real impact on IQ goes on when the children grow old.
When asked why "junk food" has a similar impact, he stated over-processed foods that may lack the elements and vitamins essential for brain development at an important stage of early childhood.
"Food is not` junk food 'good for brain development, "he said.
The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, published by the British Medical Association (BMA).
"Junk food" is also harmful to adults. "Junk food" dangerous because such foods have adverse health risk because of certain content in it, such as high fat content and preservatives.
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