What is the answer to the question?

• No evidence is available to determine the relationship between maternal dietary patterns during lactation and developmental outcomes, including neurocognitive development, in the child. 

Why was this question asked?

• This important public health question was identified by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to be examined by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

How was this question answered?

• The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Pregnancy and Lactation Subcommittee conducted a systematic review to answer this question with support from the Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR) team.
• Dietary patterns were defined as the quantities, proportions, variety, or combination of different foods, drinks, and nutrients (when available) in diets, and the frequency with which they are habitually consumed. 
• Diets based on macronutrient distribution were examined when at least one macronutrient proportion was outside of the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) for carbohydrate, fat, and/or protein, whether or not the foods/food groups consumed were provided.

What is the population of interest? 

• For the intervention/exposure, generally healthy, lactating women. 
• For the outcome, infants and toddlers (birth to 24 months) and children and adolescents (ages 2-18 years).

What evidence was found? 

• This review identified 0 studies that met the inclusion criteria.

How up-to-date is this systematic review?

• This review searched for studies from January 2000 to January 2020.

Background

• This important public health question was identified by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to be examined by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
• The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Pregnancy and Lactation Subcommittee conducted a systematic review to answer this question with support from the Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR) team.
• The goal of this systematic review was to examine the following question: What is the relationship between dietary patterns consumed during lactation and developmental milestones, including neurocognitive development, in the child?

Conclusion statement and grade

• No evidence is available to determine the relationship between maternal dietary patterns during lactation and developmental outcomes, including neurocognitive development, in the child.  (Grade: Grade not assignable)

Methods

• A literature search was conducted using four databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and CINAHL) to identify articles that evaluated the intervention or exposure of dietary patterns during lactation and the outcome of developmental milestones, including neurocognitive development, in the child. Articles were screened by two authors independently for inclusion based on pre-determined criteria. 
• Because no articles were identified in the literature search, this systematic review did not involve data extraction, risk of bias assessment, or evidence synthesis. However, a conclusion statement was developed that acknowledged the absence of evidence to address this question. Since no evidence was available to answer this question, the strength of evidence could not be graded. 

Summary of the evidence

• The outcomes for this systematic review included developmental domains (examined through milestone achievement and/or scales/indices, including cognitive, language and communication, movement and physical, and social-emotional), academic performance, attention deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder.
• This review identified 0 studies published between January 2000 and January 2020 that met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review.